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Seedlings of medicinal plants treated with either a cytokinin antagonist (PI-55) or an inhibitor of cytokinin degradation (INCYDE) are protected against the negative effects of cadmium

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Abstract

Cytokinins are plant hormones that regulate diverse processes during plant growth and development. Targeted manipulation of their metabolism or perception has already shown benefits in agriculture. Recently, we described substances that can affect plants’ endogenous cytokinin status: a cytokinin antagonist, PI-55, and an inhibitor of cytokinin degradation, INCYDE (2-chloro-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)aminopurine). The effects of these substances on seedling growth in the medicinal plant Bulbine natalensis Baker (Asphodelaceae) and the metal tolerant Rumex crispus L. (Polygonaceae) under abiotic stress caused by cadmium (Cd) were tested. Cd is known for its negative effects on plant growth and its toxicity to humans. Treatment with either PI-55 or INCYDE had positive effects on seedling shoot and root growth and the fresh weight of treated seedlings grown in the presence of Cd. Even a single application of either compound at sub-micromolar concentrations was sufficient to reverse the inhibitory effects of Cd. Our results demonstrate that modulating cytokinin status with inhibitors of cytokinin perception and/or degradation may be useful in protecting plants against the adverse effects of high Cd levels.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AHK:

Arabidopsis thaliana histidine kinase

BA:

N 6-benzyladenine

CKX:

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase

DMSO:

Dimethylsulfoxide

INCYDE:

Inhibitor of cytokinin degradation

JA:

Jasmonic acid

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MSM 6198959216 and LC06034); Grant No. ED0007/01/01 Centre of Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Markéta Gemrotová, Miroslav Strnad & Lukáš Spíchal

  2. Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany ASCR, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Markéta Gemrotová, Miroslav Strnad & Lukáš Spíchal

  3. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Markéta Gemrotová, Manoj G. Kulkarni, Wendy A. Stirk & Johannes Van Staden

Authors
  1. Markéta Gemrotová
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  2. Manoj G. Kulkarni
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  3. Wendy A. Stirk
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  4. Miroslav Strnad
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  5. Johannes Van Staden
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  6. Lukáš Spíchal
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Correspondence to Lukáš Spíchal.

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Gemrotová, M., Kulkarni, M.G., Stirk, W.A. et al. Seedlings of medicinal plants treated with either a cytokinin antagonist (PI-55) or an inhibitor of cytokinin degradation (INCYDE) are protected against the negative effects of cadmium. Plant Growth Regul 71, 137–145 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-013-9813-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-013-9813-8

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