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Osmolytes in salinity-stressed Iris hexagona

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Abstract

We characterize the salinity stress response of Iris hexagona, a freshwater species, by measuring three putative osmolytes, betaine, proline, and dimethylsulphonio-propionate (DMSP) in plants after short (3 days) and long-term (4–5 months) exposure to NaCl. HPLC analyses show that untreated control leaves contained 2.1, 0.2 and 3.2 mg g−1 DW of betaine, proline, and DMSP, respectively, and establish the presence of these compounds in the Iridaceae. Within 4 days of salinity stress (200 mM NaCl) betaine, proline and DMSP increased significantly. Among vegetative tissues, the highest level of proline occurred in roots; betaine and DMSP were highest in leaves. Analyses of generative tissue (flowers and flower stalks) after long-term exposure showed the highest levels (>10 mg g−1 DW) of all examined compounds in petals but only proline and betaine increased with salinity. All three substances showed a basipetal gradient in flower stalks. Although the examined compounds responded to salinity, the osmometry of the sap indicated that they comprise less than 10% of the osmotically active solutes. The temporal and spatial changes in the distribution of the analyzed compounds indicate complex responses to salinity.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Drs. J. Spring and L. Deaton for the use of an HPLC system and osmometer, respectively and the Center for Ecology and Environmental Technology for providing research space and supplies. This research was supported by NSF grant DEB-0124901.

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  1. Yongyin Wang

    Present address: Medtronic Diabetes, 18000 Devonshire Street, Northridge, CA, 91325-1219, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA, 70504-2451, USA

    Yongyin Wang, Susan Mopper & Karl H. Hasenstein

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  1. Yongyin Wang
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  2. Susan Mopper
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  3. Karl H. Hasenstein
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Correspondence to Karl H. Hasenstein.

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Communicated by M. Jackson.

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Wang, Y., Mopper, S. & Hasenstein, K.H. Osmolytes in salinity-stressed Iris hexagona . Acta Physiol Plant 30, 715–721 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0171-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0171-5

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