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Exogenous hydrogen sulphide alleviates nodule senescence in Glycine max-Sinorhizobium fredii symbiotic system

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Abstract

Aim

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), as a signalling molecule, regulates the process of plant growth and development. H2S is involved in the establishment of the legume and rhizobial symbiotic relationship, but little is known about the role of H2S during nodule senescence.

Method

We studied the function of H2S during nodule senescence in the Glycine max-Sinorhizobium fredii symbiotic system. Physiological and biochemical methods were used to modulate nitrogen fixation, nodule structure, senescence-related protein and gene expression.

Results

Our results indicated that H2S decreased the senescent nodule number, increased nitrogenase (Nase) activity and ureide content, and further promoted the accumulation of NO3−-N, NH4+-N, and total N, which caused the accumulation of biomass in the late steps of symbiosis. H2S alleviated nodule senescence by maintaining the normal nitrogen fixation structure of nodules. Meanwhile, the expression levels of the NifH and NodGS proteins and the N metabolic enzyme activities were enhanced by H2S during nodule senescence. Moreover, H2S stimulated the expression of nitrogen metabolism-related genes in the nodules. Finally, senescence-related gene expression levels were regulated by H2S during nodule senescence.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that H2S prolonged the lifespan of N2 fixation by delaying nodule senescence, which will be important for increasing soybean yield and agricultural sustainability development.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (U21A2029, 42177329), and the Hong Kong Research Grant Council (AoE/M-403/16).

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Author notes

  1. Juan Chen and Wu-Yu Liu are contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People’s Republic of China

    Juan Chen, Wu-Yu Liu, Xin Zhang, Qing Pan, Feng-Shuya Wang & Ge-Hong Wei

  2. College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People’s Republic of China

    Shi-Ming Wen

  3. Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Jian-Hua Zhang

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  1. Juan Chen
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Correspondence to Juan Chen or Ge-Hong Wei.

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Chen, J., Liu, WY., Zhang, X. et al. Exogenous hydrogen sulphide alleviates nodule senescence in Glycine max-Sinorhizobium fredii symbiotic system. Plant Soil 488, 603–623 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-05997-6

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