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Increased Na+ and Cl− accumulation induced by NaCl salinity inhibits cotyledonary reserve mobilization and alters the source-sink relationship in establishing dwarf cashew seedlings

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Abstract

We studied the NaCl-induced changes in cotyledons and the embryonic axis of establishing dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale) seedlings. The salt stress reduced the growth of dwarf cashew seedlings, and this response was related to the inhibition of cotyledonary reserve depletion. Lipid mobilization was inhibited by NaCl due to reduced lipase activity in the emerging and establishing seedlings. Additionally, there was reduced transient starch accumulation in the cotyledons of the salt-stressed seedlings that was associated with lower starch synthase activity at the early developmental stages and inhibited amylolytic and starch phosphorylase activities at the established seedling stage. The NaCl-induced changes in lipid and starch metabolism influenced the soluble sugar content in the cotyledons. Protein mobilization was inhibited by NaCl, and we observed the accumulation of amino acids and the inhibition of proteolytic activity in the cotyledons of the salt-stressed established seedlings. Salinity significantly reduced the free amino acid and reducing sugar contents in the embryonic axes of both emerged and established seedlings, whereas the non-reducing sugar content was affected by this stress only in the established seedlings. The Na+ and Cl− contents progressively increased in the cotyledons and embryonic axis of the seedlings as the salinity increased. We conclude that salt stress inhibits dwarf cashew seedling establishment by inhibiting the mobilization of reserves, an inhibition that was related to increased Na+ and Cl− accumulation in the cotyledons. Additionally, these toxic ions reduced the sink strength of the embryonic axis with regard to the products of cotyledonary reserve mobilization.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP) for financial support and scholarships and to Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA-CNPAT) for supplying the dwarf cashew nuts.

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  1. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Salinidade (INCTSal/CNPq), Universidade Federal do Ceará, CP 6039, Fortaleza, CE, 60440-970, Brazil

    Elton Camelo Marques, Paulo André Ferreira de Freitas, Nara Lídia Mendes Alencar, José Tarquinio Prisco & Enéas Gomes-Filho

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  1. Elton Camelo Marques
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  2. Paulo André Ferreira de Freitas
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  3. Nara Lídia Mendes Alencar
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Correspondence to Enéas Gomes-Filho.

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Marques, E.C., de Freitas, P.A.F., Alencar, N.L.M. et al. Increased Na+ and Cl− accumulation induced by NaCl salinity inhibits cotyledonary reserve mobilization and alters the source-sink relationship in establishing dwarf cashew seedlings. Acta Physiol Plant 35, 2171–2182 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-013-1254-5

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