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Bicarbonate affects the expression of iron acquisition and translocation genes involved in chlorosis in Medicago lupulina

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Abstract

Iron (Fe) deficiency chlorosis (FDC) in plant is associated with high bicarbonate concentration in calcareous soil and irrigation water, which leads to new leaf yellowing and lessens crop yield and quality. However, little is known about whether the chlorosis under bicarbonate stress resulted from blocking root–shoot Fe translocation or root Fe absorption. Moreover, the molecular response of chlorotic leaf under bicarbonate stress has been rarely reported on. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bicarbonate on Fe acquisition, Fe translocation as well as Fe accumulation in roots, normal leaf (NL) and chlorotic leaf (CL) of Medicago lupulina. Seeds were grown with and without Fe and NaHCO3 (Fe and Bic) in the nutrient solution for 10 d. Fe content, gene expression and enzymatic activity in different tissues were determined. A factorial statistical design with two factors (Fe and Bic) and two levels of each factor was adopted: + Fe, −Fe, + Fe + Bic and −Fe + Bic. Results indicated that bicarbonate stress increased the expression of genes MlHA1, MlFRO1 and MlIRT1 related to Fe acquisition and promoted the Fe absorption from solution. Furthermore, the presence of bicarbonate stress inhibited the expression of MlMATE66 in roots, prevented the Fe translocation from roots to developing leaf, brought about Fe accumulation in roots and reduced the Fe content in new leaf. Generally, according to our results, bicarbonate could prevent Fe translocation from roots into developing leaf, decrease Fe bioavailability and induce chlorosis in M. lupulina.

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The raw data used in the present study are available within the article and Supplementary File.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Natural Science Foundation of China and the Karst Science Research Center of Guizhou Province of China (U1812401) and the Science and Technology Support Plant Project of China ([2021]224) for their support in this research.

Funding

This research was supported by the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects (QIANKEHEJICHU-ZK [2023] 268), the Natural Science Foundation of China and the Karst Science Research Center of Guizhou Province, China (U1812401), the Science and Technology Support Plant Project, China ([2021]224), Higher Education Science and Research Youth Project of Guizhou Education Department (Qianjiaoji [2022]130), the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects, China (QIANKEHEJICHU-ZK [2021] Key 038), Innovation and entrepreneurship training plan for national and provincial college students, Guizhou Normal University, China (S202110663037), Science and Technology Fund Project of Guizhou Province (No.[2020]4Y028), Guizhou forestry scientific research project, Qianlinkehe [2022] No. 28.

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  1. Lunxian Liu and Meifeng Chen contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration On Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China, Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Development Regulation, Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management On High Altitude Rhododendron Diseases and Pests, Institutions of Higher Learning in Guizhou Province, School of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, People’s Republic of China

    Lunxian Liu, Meifeng Chen, Xiaorong Xu, Zhimeng Su, Ming Tang, Jing Tang, Jiyi Gong, Ximin Zhang & Yin Yi

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  1. Lunxian Liu
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Contributions

Ximin ZHANG conceived and designed the experiments. Lunxian LIU performed the experiments on RT-PCR. Zhimeng SU performed the experiments on biomass and enzyme activity. Ming TANG designed the primers. Jing TANG identified the genes. Ximin ZHANG, Lunxian LIU, Meifeng CHEN and Xiaorong XU wrote the paper. Yin YI and Jiyi GONG revised the paper. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

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Liu, L., Chen, M., Xu, X. et al. Bicarbonate affects the expression of iron acquisition and translocation genes involved in chlorosis in Medicago lupulina. Acta Physiol Plant 46, 55 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-024-03685-1

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