Abstract
Cork oak (Quercus suber), native to Mediterranean areas, is a plant of ecological and economical relevance, nevertheless, the effects of soil salinization on this species are currently unknown. We have investigated the physiological and biochemical impact of a high-salinity episode on young cork oak (Q. suber) plants. Besides the control (plants only irrigated with water), two experimental groups (irrigated once with a 300 mM NaCl solution) were analysed, one assessed at 24 h and the other at 6 days. Pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) were found increased at 24 h, but decreased at day 6 in salinity conditions. Sugars (glucose, sucrose, starch but not fructose) increased with stress (24 h and 6 days). Salinity conditions impaired photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry, mostly associated with decrease in Fv′/Fm′ and chlorophyll content (6 days). While hydrogen peroxide levels did not increase above control levels, lipid peroxidation increased, suggesting oxidative damage. In salinity conditions, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase showed higher activity in the 24 h timepoint, whereas catalase activity increased at 24 h and 6 days. These observations reveal adaptations of Q. suber to high salinity, nevertheless, the decreased photosynthetic activity and oxidative damages observed suggest that additional studies are required to assess Q. suber adaptation to diverse salinity conditions. Moreover, these data provide more information for future programs of conservation and management of salinity areas in the Mediterranean region, and selection of salinity tolerant species.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by FEDER through the Operational Competitiveness Program—COMPETE—within the scope of project “PTDC/AGRGPL/118505/2010 “An integrated approach to identify stress-related regulatory genes in cork oak (SuberStress)”, and from PT national funds (FCT/MCTES, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) through grant UID/QUI/50006/2020; and the projects of the CEF UI0183—UID/BIA/04004/2020 and LAQV-REQUIMTE UIDB/50006/2020. J.M.P. Ferreira de Oliveira (Grant Number SFRH/BPD/74868/2010) and M.C. Dias (Grant Number SFRH/BPD/100865/2014) thank FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) for funding through program DL 57/2016 – Norma transitória. M.Araújo thanks FCT (Grant Number SFRH/BD/116801/2016). The authors thanks to G. Pinto and J. Amaral for their technical support.
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JMPFO, CS, MMO and MCD designed the experiments; JMPFO and MCD performed the research; JMPFO, MA and MCD analysed the data; JMPFO, CS, MMO, MA and MCD wrote and revised the manuscript.
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de Oliveira, J.M.P.F., Santos, C., Araújo, M. et al. High-salinity activates photoprotective mechanisms in Quercus suber via accumulation of carbohydrates and involvement of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant pathways. New Forests 53, 285–300 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-021-09856-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-021-09856-z