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Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid on growth and amylase activity in the radish taproot

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Abstract

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) promotes the growth of plants by enhancing their photosynthetic activities, but there is little information on how ALA influences the metabolism of sugars produced by photosynthesis. Here, we report the effects of ALA on tissue growth, sugar content, and amylase activity in the radish taproot. 5-Aminolevulinic acid was applied with a foliar spray (5.3–13,500 μM), and application at concentrations of 53, 530, and 2,700 μM enhanced the fresh weight of the taproot. Glucose is a major soluble sugar of the radish taproot. 5-Aminolevulinic acid slightly increased the glucose content but did not influence the fructose, sucrose, or starch contents. Radishes have β-amylase (RsBAMY1), which is expressed in the taproot. 5-Aminolevulinic acid enhanced both the amylase activity and the RsBAMY1 protein accumulation. These results suggest that ALA may control starch accumulation by increasing the RsBAMY1 expression in the radish taproot. The relationship between taproot growth and free sugar accumulation by ALA is also discussed.

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Abbreviations

ALA:

5-aminolevulinic acid

DAS:

Days after sowing

RsBAMY1:

Raphanus sativus β-amylase 1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan

    Masakazu Hara, Ikuo Takahashi & Michiyo Yamori

  2. Research and Development Center, Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., 1134-2, Gongendo, Satte-Shi, Saitama, 340-0193, Japan

    Toru Tanaka, Shigeyuki Funada & Keitaro Watanabe

Authors
  1. Masakazu Hara
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  2. Ikuo Takahashi
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  3. Michiyo Yamori
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  4. Toru Tanaka
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  5. Shigeyuki Funada
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  6. Keitaro Watanabe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masakazu Hara.

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Hara, M., Takahashi, I., Yamori, M. et al. Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid on growth and amylase activity in the radish taproot. Plant Growth Regul 64, 287–291 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-010-9542-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-010-9542-1

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