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The exogenous application of spermidine alleviates photosynthetic inhibition and membrane lipid peroxidation under low-light stress in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings

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Abstract

The effects of three concentrations (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/L) of exogenous spermidine (Spd) on the O ·−2 production rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, antioxidant enzyme activities, leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and light response curve parameters were investigated in the seedlings of two tomato cultivars: low-light-stress-tolerant ‘Zhongza 9’ and sensitive ‘Zhongshu 6’. Low-light stress of 150 μmol m−2 s−1 resulted in an increase in the O ·−2 production rate, MDA content, and peroxidase activity, whereas the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities decreased. Exogenous Spd effectively ameliorated these effects. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), maximal photochemical quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), light saturation point, net photosynthetic rate at light saturation point (Amax), and dark respiration rate (Rd) simultaneously decreased under low light, but the chlorophyll content, particularly the chlorophyll b (chlb) content, markedly increased when compared to the normal-light (control) plants. Exogenous Spd diminished the decrease in leaf Pn and Fv/Fm and induced a further increase in the chlb content and decrease in Rd and chla/chlb under low-light stress. These results suggested that exogenous Spd could improve plant tolerance by alleviating the membrane lipid peroxidation and photosynthetic inhibition resulting from low light. However, the optimal Spd concentration generally differed in the two cultivars.

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Abbreviations

IVF:

Institute of Vegetables and Flowers

CAAS:

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Spd:

Spermidine (Spd1, 0.1 mg/L Spd; Spd2, 0.01 mg/L Spd; Spd 3, 0.001 mg/L Spd)

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the earmarked fund for China Agricultural Research System (CARS-25-C-09) and Science-Tech of Agri-industry Project (201203095, 20120301) Ministry of Agriculture, P. R. China; and national key project (2011BAD12B01), the National Key Basic R&D Program (2009CB19001), Ministry of Sciences & Technology, P. R. China.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crops Genetic Improvement (Ministry of Agriculture), Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun S. St., Beijing, 100081, China

      Hongjun Yu, Wenchao Zhao, Ming Wang, Xueyong Yang & Weijie Jiang

    2. Beijing Key Laboratory for Agricultural Application and New Technique, Plant Science and Technology College, Beijing Agriculture of University, Beinonglu 7, Huilongguan Zhen Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China

      Wenchao Zhao

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    1. Hongjun Yu
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    3. Ming Wang
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    Correspondence to Weijie Jiang.

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    Hongjun Yu, Wenchao Zhao and Ming Wang have contributed equally to this work.

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    Yu, H., Zhao, W., Wang, M. et al. The exogenous application of spermidine alleviates photosynthetic inhibition and membrane lipid peroxidation under low-light stress in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 78, 413–420 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-015-0102-6

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