Abstract
Aims and methods
The molecular mechanisms and signal transduction pathways of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in plant biology are still unclear. Here, by using pharmacological and biochemical approaches, we report that H2S promotes germination and alleviates salinity damage involving nitric oxide (NO) pathway.
Results
Upon 100 mM NaCl treatment, both H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) and NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at 100 μM could significantly attenuate the inhibition of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seed germination and thereafter seedling growth inhibition. Meanwhile, the ratio of potassium (K) to sodium (Na) in the root parts was increased. Total, isozymatic activities or corresponding transcripts of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), or ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were activated differentially, thus resulting in the alleviation of oxidative damage. The above protective roles of NaHS might be related to the induction of endogenous NO, because the addition of the specific scavenger of NO 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide potassium salt (cPTIO) reversed above effects. Meanwhile, NaHS-triggered NO production was confirmed.
Conclusions
Our observations indicate that H2S enhances plant responses against salinity stress by reducing oxidative damage, which might have a possible interaction with NO.
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Abbreviations
- APX:
-
Ascorbate peroxidase
- ASC:
-
Ascorbic acid
- CAT:
-
Catalase
- cPTIO:
-
2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide potassium salt
- H2S:
-
Hydrogen sulfide
- NaHS:
-
Sodium hydrosulfide
- NO:
-
Nitric oxide
- POD:
-
Guaiacol peroxidase
- SNP:
-
Sodium nitroprusside
- SOD:
-
Superoxide dismutase
- TBARS:
-
Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, the Education Department of Jiangsu (grant no. 200910), the Technology Support Program in Jiangsu Province, China (grant no. BE2010382), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (KYZ200905).
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Figure S1
Effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) at the indicated concentrations on the seed germination inhibition conferred by 100 mM NaCl (S) for 2 days. Germination tests were carried out on three replicates of 150 seeds each. There were 50 seeds in each Petri dish. The photograph was taken after 2 days of incubation. In comparison with 100 mM NaCl-stressed alone sample, concentrations between 0.01 and 1.0 mM NaHS alleviated alfalfa seed germination inhibition with a maximal response at 0.1 mM. Bar, 1 cm. (DOC 3386 kb)
Figure S2
Effects of NaHS (100 μM), SNP (100 μM), and cPTIO (200 μM) treatments on the inhibition of alfalfa seed germination caused by 100 mM NaCl stress (S). Germination tests were carried out on three replicates of 150 seeds each. There were 50 seeds in each Petri dish. The photograph was taken after 2 days of incubation. Bar, 1 cm. (DOC 3902 kb)
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Wang, Y., Li, L., Cui, W. et al. Hydrogen sulfide enhances alfalfa (Medicago sativa) tolerance against salinity during seed germination by nitric oxide pathway. Plant Soil 351, 107–119 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0936-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0936-2