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Interactions between ethylene, gibberellin and abscisic acid regulate emergence and growth rate of adventitious roots in deepwater rice

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Abstract

Growth of adventitious roots is induced in deepwater rice (Oryza sativa L.) when plants become submerged. Ethylene which accumulates in flooded plant parts is responsible for root growth induction. Gibberellin (GA) is ineffective on its own but acts in a synergistic manner together with ethylene to promote the number of penetrating roots and the growth rate of emerged roots. Studies with the GA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol revealed that root emergence was dependent on GA activity. Abscisic acid (ABA) acted as a competitive inhibitor of GA activity. Root growth rate on the other hand was dependent on GA concentration and ABA acted as a potent inhibitor possibly of GA but also of ethylene signaling. The results indicated that root emergence and elongation are distinct phases of adventitious root growth that are regulated through different networking between ethylene, GA and ABA signaling pathways. Adventitious root emergence must be coordinated with programmed death of epidermal cells which cover root primordia. Epidermal cell death is also controlled by ethylene, GA and ABA albeit with cell-type specific cross-talk. Different interactions between the same hormones may be a means to ensure proper timing of cell death and root emergence and to adjust the growth rate of emerged adventitious roots.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

GA:

Gibberellic acid

NBD:

Norbornadiene (bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene)

PAC:

Paclobutrazol

PCD:

Programmed cell death

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Acknowledgements

Financial support by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through a scholarship to JW is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanisches Institut, Universität Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24098, Kiel, Germany

    Bianka Steffens & Margret Sauter

  2. Laboratory of Plant Nutritional Genetics, Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, 24098 Kiel Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Jinxiang Wang

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  1. Bianka Steffens
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  2. Jinxiang Wang
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  3. Margret Sauter
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Correspondence to Margret Sauter.

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Steffens, B., Wang, J. & Sauter, M. Interactions between ethylene, gibberellin and abscisic acid regulate emergence and growth rate of adventitious roots in deepwater rice. Planta 223, 604–612 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0111-1

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