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Sucrose Protects Arabidopsis Roots from Chromium Toxicity Influencing the Auxin–Plethora Signaling Pathway and Improving Meristematic Cell Activity

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Abstract

Plants adapt to challenging growth conditions, such as the scarcity of nutrients or exposure to toxic metals, via changes in root system architecture. Chromium (Cr) is a non-essential element that when supplied in sublethal concentrations inhibits primary root growth through decreasing meristematic activity and affects photosynthesis. Here, we show that sucrose reverses the inhibitory effects of Cr(VI) on plant growth and development. Sucrose supplementation reactivated primary root growth under repressing Cr(VI) concentrations by restoring cell division and auxin distribution at the root meristem, keeping stem cell niche functioning. Analysis of the growth of Arabidopsis wild-type and mutant seedlings defective in auxin transport or signaling further revealed a critical role of auxin in mediating the effects of sucrose to protect plants from Cr(VI) toxicity. The results suggest that sucrose acts as a regulator in the maintenance of root meristem activity to overcome the stress generated by sublethal Cr(VI) concentrations.

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Acknowledgements

Drs. Mark A. Estelle and Alfredo Cruz-Ramírez are thanked for providing us Arabidopsis mutant and transgenic lines. This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT, México, Grant Nos. 177775, and 169769), and the Consejo de la Investigación Científica (UMSNH, México, Grant No. CIC 2.26).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio B3, Ciudad Universitaria, C. P. 58030, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Fátima Hernández-Madrigal, León Francisco Ruiz-Herrera, Carlos Cervantes & José López-Bucio

  2. CONACYT-Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Colonia El Haya, C. P. 91070, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Randy Ortiz-Castro

  3. Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio R, Ciudad Universitaria, C. P. 58030, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Fátima Hernández-Madrigal & Miguel Martínez-Trujillo

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  1. Fátima Hernández-Madrigal
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  2. Randy Ortiz-Castro
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  3. León Francisco Ruiz-Herrera
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  4. Carlos Cervantes
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  5. José López-Bucio
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  6. Miguel Martínez-Trujillo
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Correspondence to José López-Bucio or Miguel Martínez-Trujillo.

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Hernández-Madrigal, F., Ortiz-Castro, R., Ruiz-Herrera, L.F. et al. Sucrose Protects Arabidopsis Roots from Chromium Toxicity Influencing the Auxin–Plethora Signaling Pathway and Improving Meristematic Cell Activity. J Plant Growth Regul 37, 530–538 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9751-1

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