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Effects of brassinosteroid and brassinosteroid mimic on photosynthetic efficiency and rice yield under heat stress

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been reported to counteract various stresses. We investigated effects of exogenously applied brassinosteroid, 24-epibrassinolide (EBR), and brassinosteroid-mimic compound, 7,8-dihydro-8α-20-hydroxyecdysone (DHECD), on the photosynthetic efficiency and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Pathum Thani 1) under heat stress. Solutions (1 nM) of EBR and DHECD were separately sprayed onto foliage of individual rice plants during their reproductive stage. Five days after the application, the plants were transferred to the day/night temperature regime of 40/30°C for 7 days and then allowed to recover at normal temperature for 7 days. We demonstrated that both DHECD and EBR helped maintain the net photosynthetic rate. The DHECD and EBR application enhanced stomatal conductance, stomatal limitation, and water-use efficiency under the high-temperature regime. DHECD- and EBR-treated plants showed an increase in the nonphotochemical quenching that was lower than that in the control plants. Moreover, DHECD and EBR treatments maintained the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry and the efficiency of excitation capture of the open PSII center. Furthermore, the treatments with DHECD or EBR resulted in higher chlorophyll content during the heat treatment compared with the control plants. The paddy field application of 1 nM EBR and/or 1 nM DHECD at the reproductive stage during the hot season could increase the rice yield, especially, the number of filled seeds. DHECD and EBR enhanced total soluble sugar and reducing sugar in straw and more starch was accumulated in rice seeds. Consequently, our results confirmed that DHECD showed biological activities mimicking EBR in the improvement of photosynthetic efficiency and in rising the rice yield under heat stress.

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Abbreviations

BR(s):

brassinosteroid(s)

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

C i/C a :

concentration ratio of intercellular CO2 and ambient CO2

DHECD:

7,8-dihydro-8α-20-hydroxyecdysone

DHT:

days after heat stress

DM:

dry mass

E :

transpiration rate

EBR:

24-epibrassinolide

ETR:

electron transport rate

F0 :

minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

F0′:

minimal fluorescence yield of the light-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fm′:

maximal fluorescence yield of the light-adapted state

Fs :

steady-state fluorescence yield

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

Fv′/Fm′:

the efficiency of excitation capture of open PSII center

FM:

fresh mass

g s :

stomatal conductance

Ls :

stomatal limitation

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

qP :

photochemical quenching coefficient

RE7:

7 days of recovery

WUE:

water-use efficiency

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    J. Thussagunpanit, K. Jutamanee, W. Sonjaroon & L. Kaveeta

  2. Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaengsaen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaengsaen Campus, Nakhonpathom, 73140, Thailand

    W. Chai-Arree

  3. Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand

    P. Pankean & A. Suksamrarn

Authors
  1. J. Thussagunpanit
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  2. K. Jutamanee
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  3. W. Sonjaroon
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  4. L. Kaveeta
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  7. A. Suksamrarn
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Correspondence to K. Jutamanee.

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Acknowledgements: The present work was supported by the Thailand Research Fund (RDG5490011). Partial support from the Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Office of the Higher Education Commission is gratefully acknowledged.

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Thussagunpanit, J., Jutamanee, K., Sonjaroon, W. et al. Effects of brassinosteroid and brassinosteroid mimic on photosynthetic efficiency and rice yield under heat stress. Photosynthetica 53, 312–320 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0106-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-015-0106-5

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