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Impact of Ethylene and Abscisic Acid on Programmed Cell Death in Endosperm and Grain Filling of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

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Abstract

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an important physiological activity of plants in adapting to the external environment and maintaining metabolism. However, the mechanism of hormone regulating PCD and nutrient accumulation in endosperm cells during wheat growth needs to explore more research. In this study, the hormone regulation of PCD in wheat endosperm and grain filling under post-anthesis drought stress was studied through spraying ethylene synthesis inhibitor cobalt nitrate (CN) and abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis inhibitor fluridone (FU). The results showed that CN treatment reduced the content of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) (23.6%) and DNA hydrolase activity (6.1%), while increased the viability of endosperm cells, the maximum number (7.1%) and DNA content (5.4%) of endosperm nuclei. Besides, it also up-regulated the expression of ethylene receptor and dad1, delayed the change of nuclear shape, and prolonged the duration of high-filling-rate period (12.1%), leading to increased grain weight (6.4%). However, FU treatment reduced the content of ABA (12.3%), the maximum number (5.1%), and DNA content (7.3%) of endosperm nuclei. Besides, it also down-regulated the expression of ethylene receptor and dad1, increased ACC content (15.6%) and DNA hydrolase activity (15.6%), accelerated the change of nuclear morphology, and shortened the effective filling period (8.1%), leading to reduced grain weight (8%). This study explored the role of plant hormone regulation in wheat and urge for more for sustainable agriculture.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

ACC:

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

CK:

Control group

CN:

Cobalt nitrate

DAPI:

4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

DNase:

Deoxyribonuclease

DPA:

Days post anthesis

FU:

Fluridone

PCD:

Programmed cell death

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31860337 and 31860335), and Specific Project for Breeding of Shihezi University (YZZX202002 and YZZX202103).

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Author notes

  1. Chao Li and Xiangchi Zhang have contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832000, People’s Republic of China

    Chao Li, Xiangchi Zhang, Kaiyong Fu, Chunyan Li & Cheng Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832000, People’s Republic of China

    Chao Li, Xiangchi Zhang, Kaiyong Fu, Chunyan Li & Cheng Li

  3. Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Tekes County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, 835500, People’s Republic of China

    Wenting Guo

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Contributions

CL and CYL provides the idea for this research. CL, XCZ, WTG and KYF performing the experiments of wheat cultivation and analysis. CL and XCZ conducted all statistical analyses. CL wrote the manuscript. All authors reviewed the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chunyan Li or Cheng Li.

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Li, C., Zhang, X., Guo, W. et al. Impact of Ethylene and Abscisic Acid on Programmed Cell Death in Endosperm and Grain Filling of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). J Plant Growth Regul 42, 4275–4289 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-022-10891-z

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