Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiological and Molecular Effects of 24-Epibrassinolide, a Brassinosteroid on Thermotolerance of Tomato

  • Published:
Plant Growth Regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Brassinosteroids are naturally occurring plant growth regulators, which exhibit structural similarities to animal steroid hormones. Recent studies have indicated that besides an essential role in plant growth and development, brassinosteroids also exert anti-stress effects on plants. We show here that tomato plants treated with 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) are more tolerant to high temperature than untreated plants. An analysis of mitochondrial small heat shock proteins (MT-sHSP) in tomato leaves by western blotting revealed that the MT-sHSP did not preferentially accumulate in EBR treated plants at 25 °C. However, treatment of plants at 38 °C induced much more accumulation of MT-sHSP in EBR treated than in untreated plants. Results of this study provide the first direct evidence for EBR induced expression of MT-sHSP, which possibly induced thermotolerance in tomato plants. EBR treated tomato plants had better photosynthetic efficiency. We also observed significantly higher in vitro pollen germination, enhanced pollen tube growth and low pollen bursting in the presence of EBR at 35 °C, a temperature high enough to induce heat-stress symptoms in tomato, indicating a possible role of EBR during plant reproduction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A:

Net photosynthetic rate

BRs:

Brassinosteroids

Ci:

Internal CO2 concentration

E:

Transpiration rate

EBR:

24-epibrassinolide

g s :

Stomatal conductance

MT-sHSP:

Mitochondrial small heat-shock protein

References

  • S. Anuradha S.S.R. Rao (2001) ArticleTitleEffect of brassinosteroids on salinity stress induced inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) Plant Growth Regul. 33 151–153 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1017590108484 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsVems7c%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R.N. Arteca (1995) Brassinosteroids P.J. Davis (Eds) Plant Hormones, Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Kluwer Academic Press DordrechtThe Netherlands 206–213

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Asakawa H. Abe N. Nishikawa M. Natsume M. Koshioka (1996) ArticleTitlePurification and identification of new acyl-conjugated teasterones in lily pollen Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 60 1416–1420 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XlvFanu74%3D Occurrence Handle10.1271/bbb.60.1416

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bukhov N.G., Wiese C., Neimanis S. and Heber U. 1999. Photosynth. Res. 59: 81.

    Google Scholar 

  • S.D. Clouse K.A. Feldmann (1999) Molecular genetics of brassinosteroid action A. Sakurai T. Yokota S.D. Clouse (Eds) Brassinosteroids: Steroidal Plant Hormones Springer-Verlag TokyoJapan 163–189

    Google Scholar 

  • S.D. Clouse J.M. Sasse (1998) ArticleTitleBrassinosteroids: essential regulators of plant growth and development Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 49 427–451 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.arplant.49.1.427 Occurrence Handle15012241 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjvVShu7o%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Dhaubhadel S. Chaudhary K.F. Dobinson P. Krishna (1999) ArticleTitleTreatment with 24-epibrassinolidea brassinosteroidincreases the basic thermotolerance of Brassica napustomato seedlings Plant Mol. Biol. 40 333–342 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006283015582 Occurrence Handle10412911 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXkvVylu7s%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Dhaubhadel K.S. Browing D.R. Gallie P. Krishna (2002) ArticleTitleBrassinosteroid function to protect the translational machinery and heat-shock protein synthesis following thermal stress Plant J. 29 IssueID6 681–691 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-313X.2002.01257.x Occurrence Handle12148527 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xjs12nu7s%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Dane A.G. Hunter O.L. Chambliss (1991) ArticleTitleFruit setpollen fertility, and combining ability of selected tomato genotypes under high temperature field conditions J. Amer. Hort. Sci. 116 906–910

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Fujioka (1999) Natural occurrence of brassinosteroids in the plant kingdom A. Sakurai T. Yokota S.D. Clouse (Eds) Brassinosteroids: Steroidal Plant Hormones Springer-Verlag TokyoJapan 21–45

    Google Scholar 

  • M.D. Grove F.G. Spencer W.K. Rohwededer N.B. Mandava J.F. Worley J.D. Warthen SuffixJr. G.L. Steffens J.L. Flippen-Anderson J.C. Cook SuffixJr. (1979) ArticleTitleBrassinolidea plant growth promoting steroid isolated from Brassica napus pollen Nature 281 216–217 Occurrence Handle10.1038/281216a0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXht1CrtLY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Hamada (1986) Brassinolide in crop production P. Maegregor (Eds) Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture Food Fertl. Technol. Cent. Asia Pac. Reg Taiwan 190–196

    Google Scholar 

  • F.R. Hewitt T. Hough P. O’Neill J.M. Sasse E.G. Williams K.S. Rowan (1985) ArticleTitleEffect of brassinolide and other growth regulators on the germination and growth of pollen tubes of prunus avium using a multiple hang-drop assay Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 12 201–211 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXltFyju7c%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • X.W. Jin Z.Y. Shen (1999) ArticleTitleChanges in transpiration, seed vigor and ATP level under heat stress and their relations with heat tolerance in three kinds of vegetable crops J. China Agric. Uni. 4 98–102

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Katsumi (1991) Physiological modes of brassinolide action in cucumber hypocotyl growth H.G. Cutler T. Yokota G. Adam (Eds) Brassinosteroids Chemistry, Bioactivity and Applications Am. Chem. Soc Washington, DC 246–254

    Google Scholar 

  • S-K. Kim (1991) Natural occurrences of brassinosteroids H.G. Cutler T. Yokota G. Adam (Eds) Brassinosteroids Chemistry, Bioactivity and Applications Am. Chem. Soc Washington, DC 26–35

    Google Scholar 

  • O.N. Kulaeva E.A. Burkhanova A.B. Fedina V.A. Khokhlova G.A. Bokebayeva (1991) Effect of brassinosteroids on protein synthesis and plant-cell ultrastructure under stress conditions H.G. Cutler T. Yokota G. Adam (Eds) Brassinosteroids Chemistry, Bioactivity and Applications Am. Chem. Soc Washington, DC 141–155

    Google Scholar 

  • U.K. Laemmli (1970) ArticleTitleCleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophase T4 Nature 227 680–685 Occurrence Handle10.1038/227680a0 Occurrence Handle5432063 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlsFags7s%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Lindquist E.A. Craig (1988) ArticleTitleThe heat shock proteins Annu. Rev. Genet. 22 631–677 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.ge.22.120188.003215 Occurrence Handle2853609 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXhtlSmtbg%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Liu M. Shono (1999) ArticleTitleCharacterization of mitochondria-located small heat shock protein from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Plant Cell Physiol. 40 1297–1304 Occurrence Handle10682350 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXlsVGh

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.A. Lund P.H. Blum D. Bhattamakki T.E. Elthon (1998) ArticleTitleHeat- stress response of maize mitochondria Plant Physiol. 116 1097–1110 Occurrence Handle10.1104/pp.116.3.1097 Occurrence Handle9501143 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXitVOjsL0%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • N.B. Mandava (1988) ArticleTitlePlant growth promoting brassinosteroids Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 39 23–52 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.pp.39.060188.000323 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXlsVKhtrY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Y. Murakami M. Tsuyama Y. Kobayashi H. Kodama K. Iba (2000) ArticleTitleTrienoic fatty acids and plant tolerance of high temperature Science 287 476–479 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.287.5452.476 Occurrence Handle10642547 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXntl2nug%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D.A. Parsell S. Lindquist (1993) ArticleTitleThe functions of heat-shock proteins in stress tolerance: degradation and reactivation of damaged proteins Annu. Rev. Genet. 27 437–496 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.ge.27.120193.002253 Occurrence Handle8122909 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhvVGnt7o%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Sakurai S. Fujioka (1993) ArticleTitleThe current status of physiology and biochemistry of brassinosteroids Plant Growth Regul. 13 147–159 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00024257 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXmsVGnurc%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Sanmiya K. Suzuki Y. Egawa M. Shono (2004) ArticleTitleMitochondrial small heat-shock protein enhances thermotolerance in tobacco plants FEBS Lett. 557 265–268 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(03)01494-7 Occurrence Handle14741379 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXltFShsw%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Sasse (1997) ArticleTitleRecent progress in brassinosteroid research Physiol. Plant. 100 696–701 Occurrence Handle10.1034/j.1399-3054.1997.1000333.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXks1yqsb4%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Sasse (1999) Physiological action of brassinosteroids A. Sakurai T. Yokota S.D. Clouse (Eds) Brassinosteroids: Steroidal Plant Hormones Springer-Verlag TokyoJapan 306–311

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Singh M. Shono (2003) ArticleTitleEffect of 24-epibrassinolide on pollen viability during heat-stress in tomato Indian J. Exp. Biol. 41 174–176 Occurrence Handle15255612

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J. Song K. Nada S. Tachibana (1999) ArticleTitleAmeliorative effect of polyamines on the high temperature inhibition of in vitro pollen germination in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Scientia Hort. 80 203–212 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-4238(98)00254-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXpslWmug%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • E. Vierling (1991) ArticleTitleThe role of heat shock proteins in plants Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 42 579–620 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.pp.42.060191.003051 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXltFSms7g%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • B. Wang G. Zeng (1993) ArticleTitleEffect of epibrassinolide on the resistance of rice seedlings to chilling injury Zhiwa Shengli Xuebao 19 53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • M. L. Weaver H. Timm (1989) ArticleTitleScreening tomato for high temperature tolerance through pollen viability tests Hort. Sci. 24 493–495

    Google Scholar 

  • R.W. Wilen M. Sacco L.V. Gusta P. Krishna (1995) ArticleTitleEffect of 24-epibrassinolide on freezing and thermotolerance of bromegrass (Bromus inermis) cell cultures Physiol. Plant. 95 195–202 Occurrence Handle10.1034/j.1399-3054.1995.950204.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XitVSjtw%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R-J. Xu Y-J. He Y-Q. Wang Y-J. Zhao (1994) ArticleTitlePreliminary study of brassinosterone binding sites from mung bean epicotyls Acta Phytophysiol. Sin. 20 298–302 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXivVyqurY%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T. Yokota (1997) ArticleTitleThe structurebiosynthesis and function of brassinosteroids Trends Plant Sci. 2 137–143 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1360-1385(97)01017-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T. Yokota N. Takahashi (1986) Chemistry, physiology and agriculture application of brassinolide and related steroids M. Bopp (Eds) Plant Growth Substances, 1985 Springer-Verlag Berlin 129–138

    Google Scholar 

  • J.Q. Yu L.F. Huang W.H. Hu Y.H. Zhou W.H. Ye Mao S.F. Ye S. Nogues (2004) ArticleTitleA role of brassinosteroids in the regulation of photosynthesis in Cucumis sativus J. Exp. Bot. 55 IssueID399 1135–43 Occurrence Handle10.1093/jxb/erh124 Occurrence Handle15107450 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjs1Wrurs%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ishwar Singh

    Present address: Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, P.O. Dilkusha, 226 002, Lucknow, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Okinawa Subtropical Station, Maezato 1091-1, 907-0002, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan

    Ishwar Singh & Mariko Shono

Authors
  1. Ishwar Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mariko Shono
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariko Shono.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, I., Shono, M. Physiological and Molecular Effects of 24-Epibrassinolide, a Brassinosteroid on Thermotolerance of Tomato. Plant Growth Regul 47, 111–119 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-005-3252-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-005-3252-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation