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Salicylic acid alleviates aluminum-induced inhibition of biomass by enhancing photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in Panax notoginseng

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Abstract

Aims

Determine whether salicylic acid (SA) can alleviate the inhibitory effects of Al stress on dry matter accumulation in Panax notoginseng, and to investigate the mechanism by which the SA regulates photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism.

Methods

Effects of SA on the biomass of P. notoginseng and the concentration of Al in leaves under Al stress were evaluated. SA and the scavenger paclobutrazol (PAC, SA synthetic inhibitor) were used to assess the effects of SA on photosynthesis and the metabolism of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in P. notoginseng.

Results

SA reduced Al by 13.23% in the leaves of P. notoginseng under Al stress. It also promoted the synthesis of carbohydrates in the leaves and their transport to the roots. Additionally, SA alleviated the Al-induced reduction of chlorophyll (Chl) by upregulating the expression of Chl synthesis genes (CHLM, CHLG, HEMB1, HEMC, and HEME) and downregulating the degradation genes (CLH2 and PPH1). Concomitantly, the rubisco activase (RCA) and rubisco enzyme activities were promoted by upregulating the expressions of the RCA, rbcL, and rbcS genes via treatment with SA, thereby restoring the synthesis and metabolism of TNC. Furthermore, SA attenuated the decrease in photosynthetic capacity and photosynthesis system II photochemistry efficiency in Al-stressed plants. Furthermore, SA significantly reduced the H2O2 concentration by 12.22% under Al stress.

Conclusions

By regulating photosynthesis-related genes and photochemical processes, SA promoted photosynthesis and enhanced leaf carbohydrate synthesis under Al stress. Thus, SA enhanced the production of P. notoginseng biomass, ultimately reducing the inhibitory effects of Al.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

Chlorophyll

Ci:

Intercellular CO2 concentration

Fv/Fm :

Maximal quantum yield of photosystem II

Gs:

Stomatal conductance

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching coefficient

PAC:

Paclobutrazol

Pn:

Net photosynthetic rate

PS II:

Photosystem II

qP:

Photochemical quenching coefficient

RCA:

Rubisco activase

Rubisco:

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

SA:

Salicylic acid

SC:

Structural carbohydrates

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

TNC:

Total nonstructural carbohydrates

Tr:

Transpiration rate

TSC:

Total soluble carbohydrates

ΦPSII :

Quantum efficiency of photosystem II

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the key project at central government level: the ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese medicine resources (No. 2060302), Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81960690, 81891014 81460580), Ministry of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province, China (No. 2017ZF014, 2017ZF001).

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Author notes

  1. Chunyan Dai and Lisha Qiu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China

    Chunyan Dai

  2. Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Panax notoginseng|, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China

    Chunyan Dai, Lisha Qiu, Sisi Jing, Xiaoya Chen, Xiuming Cui & Ye Yang

  3. Key Laboratory of Panax notoginseng Resources Sustainable Development and Utilization of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China

    Chunyan Dai, Lisha Qiu, Sisi Jing, Xiaoya Chen, Xiuming Cui & Ye Yang

  4. Kunming Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Famous-Region Drug, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China

    Chunyan Dai, Lisha Qiu, Sisi Jing, Xiaoya Chen, Xiuming Cui & Ye Yang

  5. University Based Provincial Key Laboratory of Screening and Utilization of Targeted Drugs, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China

    Chunyan Dai, Lisha Qiu, Sisi Jing, Xiaoya Chen, Xiuming Cui & Ye Yang

  6. Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China

    Chunyan Dai, Lisha Qiu, Sisi Jing, Xiaoya Chen, Xiuming Cui & Ye Yang

  7. Chinese Medica Resources Center, China Academy of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China

    Lanping Guo

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  1. Chunyan Dai
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  2. Lisha Qiu
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  5. Xiaoya Chen
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Correspondence to Xiuming Cui or Ye Yang.

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Dai, C., Qiu, L., Guo, L. et al. Salicylic acid alleviates aluminum-induced inhibition of biomass by enhancing photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in Panax notoginseng. Plant Soil 445, 183–198 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04293-6

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