Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Water-deficit treatment followed by re-watering stimulates seminal root growth associated with hormone balance and photosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Plant Growth Regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Elucidating the growth responses of roots to water status will reveal physiological mechanisms underlying drought tolerance and water conservation in plants. Hydroponic experiments were conducted using two winter wheat cultivars, Wangshuibai (drought-sensitive) and Luohan 7 (drought-tolerant), and a water deficit was induced using a 20 % (m/v) aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol 6000 (−0.6 MPa). The lack of water significantly reduced the plant dry weight, leaf area, total root length (TRL) and surface area in seminal (SRs) and nodal roots (NRs), but the effects were less pronounced in Luohan 7 than in Wangshuibai. After re-watering, leaf area, TRL and surface area of Luohan 7 increased significantly, as compared to the controls, due to rapid compensatory growth of SRs, while those of Wangshuibai were still significantly reduced. Under water-deficit conditions, the concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinin (CTK) and their ratio (IAA/CTK) in SRs and NRs of both cultivars were significantly lower than those of controls, but increased after re-watering. However, Luohan 7 showed significantly increases in IAA/CTK of SRs as compared to the control. Net photosynthetic rate was much lower during water deficit in both cultivars, but it was enhanced significantly after re-watering, especially for Luohan 7. Moreover, sucrose content was significantly increased in leaves while reduced in roots under water-deficit conditions. After re-watering, sucrose content in leaves of both cultivars and in roots of Wangshuibai was severely reduced, while the values in roots of Luohan 7 were significantly increased as compared to the control. These results indicate that the drought-tolerant cultivar has a greater ability to maintain plant growth under water deficit and greater compensatory growth in SRs associated with higher IAA/CTK and photosynthetic products supply after re-watering.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aloni R, Aloni E, Langhans M, Ullrich C (2006) Role of cytokinin and auxin in shaping root architecture: regulating vascular differentiation, lateral root initiation, root apical dominance and root gravitropism. Ann Bot 97(5):883–893

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Araus JL, Slafer GA, Royo C, Serret MD (2008) Breeding for yield potential and stress adaptation in cereals. Crit Rev Plant Sci 27(6):377–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhalerao RP, Eklöf J, Ljung K, Marchant A, Bennett M, Sandberg G (2002) Shoot-derived auxin is essential for early lateral root emergence in Arabidopsis seedlings. Plant J 29(3):325–332

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bingham I, Blackwood J, Stevenson E (1998) Relationship between tissue sugar content, phloem import and lateral root initiation in wheat. Physiol Plant 103(1):107–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blilou I, Xu J, Wildwater M, Willemsen V, Paponov I, Friml J, Heidstra R, Aida M, Palme K, Scheres B (2005) The PIN auxin efflux facilitator network controls growth and patterning in Arabidopsis roots. Nature 433(7021):39–44

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casimiro I, Marchant A, Bhalerao RP, Beeckman T, Dhooge S, Swarup R, Graham N, Inzé D, Sandberg G, Casero PJ (2001) Auxin transport promotes Arabidopsis lateral root initiation. Plant Cell 13(4):843–852

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casimiro I, Beeckman T, Graham N, Bhalerao R, Zhang H, Casero P, Sandberg G, Bennett MJ (2003) Dissecting Arabidopsis lateral root development. Trends Plant Sci 8(4):165–171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaves M, Oliveira M (2004) Mechanisms underlying plant resilience to water deficits: prospects for water-saving agriculture. J Exp Bot 55(407):2365–2384

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chu G, Chen T, Wang Z, Yang J, Zhang J (2014) Morphological and physiological traits of roots and their relationships with water productivity in water-saving and drought-resistant rice. F Crop Res 162:108–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dello Ioio R, Linhares FS, Scacchi E, Casamitjana-Martinez E, Heidstra R, Costantino P, Sabatini S (2007) Cytokinins determine Arabidopsis root-meristem size by controlling cell differentiation. Curr Biol 17(8):678–682

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garay-Arroyo A, De La Paz SánchezM, García-Ponce B, Azpeitia E, Álvarez-Buylla ER (2012) Hormone symphony during root growth and development. Dev Dyn 241(12):1867–1885

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gowda VR, Henry A, Yamauchi A, Shashidhar H, Serraj R (2011) Root biology and genetic improvement for drought avoidance in rice. F Crop Res 122(1):1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber BD, Giehl RF, Friedel S, von Wirén N (2013) Plasticity of the Arabidopsis root system under nutrient deficiencies. Plant Physiol 163(1):161–179

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans C, Hammond JP, White PJ, Verbruggen N (2006) How do plants respond to nutrient shortage by biomass allocation? Trends Plant Sci 11(12):610–617

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howell SH, Lall S, Che P (2003) Cytokinins and shoot development. Trends Plant Sci 8(9):453–459

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kano M, Inukai Y, Kitano H, Yamauchi A (2011) Root plasticity as the key root trait for adaptation to various intensities of drought stress in rice. Plant Soil 342(1–2):117–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karthikeyan AS, Varadarajan DK, Jain A, Held MA, Carpita NC, Raghothama KG (2007) Phosphate starvation responses are mediated by sugar signaling in Arabidopsis. Planta 225:907–918

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuderová A, Urbánková I, Válková M, Malbeck J, Brzobohatý B, Némethová D, Hejátko J (2008) Effects of conditional IPT-dependent cytokinin overproduction on root architecture of Arabidopsis seedlings. Plant Cell Physiol 49(4):570–582

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li T, Li S (2007) Leaf responses of micropropagated apple plants to water stress: changes in endogenous hormones and their influence on carbohydrate metabolism. Agric Sci China 6(1):58–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Wang Q, Ding Y, Li G, Xu J, Wang S (2011) Effects of external ABA, GA3 and NAA on the tiller bud outgrowth of rice is related to changes in endogenous hormones. Plant Growth Regul 65(2):247–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Bhalerao RP, Sandberg G (2001) Sites and homeostatic control of auxin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis during vegetative growth. Plant J 28(4):465–474

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luo L (2010) Breeding for water-saving and drought-resistance rice (WDR) in China. J Exp Bot 61:3509–3517

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma F, Li D, Cai J, Jiang D, Cao W, Dai T (2012) Responses of wheat seedlings root growth and leaf photosynthesis to drought stress. J Appl Ecol 23(3):724–730 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor DR, Deak KI, Ingram PA, Malamy JE (2008) Root system architecture in Arabidopsis grown in culture is regulated by sucrose uptake in the aerial tissues. Plant Cell 20(10):2643–2660

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mahouachi J, Arbona V, Gómez-Cadenas A (2007) Hormonal changes in papaya seedlings subjected to progressive water stress and re-watering. Plant Growth Regul 53:43–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malamy J (2005) Intrinsic and environmental response pathways that regulate root system architecture. Plant Cell Environ 28(1):67–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manske GGB, Vlek PLG (2002) Root architecture-wheat as a model. In: Waisel Y, Eshel A (eds) Plant roots: the hidden half. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 249–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Medrano H, Escalona J, Bota J, Gulias J, Flexas J (2002) Regulation of photosynthesis of C3 plants in response to progressive drought: stomatal conductance as a reference parameter. Ann Bot 89(7):895–905

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meng G, Li G, He L, Chai Y, Kong J, Lei Y (2013) Combined effects of CO2 enrichment and drought stress on growth and energetic properties in the seedlings of a potential bioenergy crop Jatropha curcas. J Plant Growth Regul 32(3):542–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michel BE, Kaufmann MR (1973) The osmotic potential of polyethylene glycol 6000. Plant Physiol 51(5):914–916

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osmont KS, Sibout R, Hardtke CS (2007) Hidden branches: developments in root system architecture. Annu Rev Plant Biol 58:93–113

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quint M, Barkawi LS, Fan K-T, Cohen JD, Gray WM (2009) Arabidopsis IAR4 modulates auxin response by regulating auxin homeostasis. Plant Physiol 150(2):748–758

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rahayu YS, Walch-Liu P, Neumann G, Römheld V, von Wirén N, Bangerth F (2005) Root-derived cytokinins as long-distance signals for NO3 −-induced stimulation of leaf growth. J Exp Bot 56(414):1143–1152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rostamza M, Richards R, Watt M (2013) Response of millet and sorghum to a varying water supply around the primary and nodal roots. Ann Bot 112(2):439–446

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sahnoune M, Adda A, Soualem S, Harch MK, Merah O (2004) Early water-deficit effects on seminal roots morphology in barley. CR Biol 327(4):389–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima H, Kondo M, Ito O, Nozoe T, Shinano T, Osaki M (2004) Root-shoot interaction as a limiting factor of biomass productivity in new tropical rice lines. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 50(4):545–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanguineti M, Li S, Maccaferri M, Corneti S, Rotondo F, Chiari T, Tuberosa R (2007) Genetic dissection of seminal root architecture in elite durum wheat germplasm. Ann Appl Biol 151(3):291–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiefelbein JW, Benfey PN (1991) The development of plant roots: new approaches to underground problems. Plant cell 3(11):1147–1154

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Serraj R, Krishnamurthy L, Kashiwagi J, Kumar J, Chandra S, Crouch J (2004) Variation in root traits of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grown under terminal drought. F Crop Res 88(2):115–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serraj R, Gowda V, Henry A, Fujita D, Kobayashi N, Yamauchi A, Inukai Y, Suralta R, Kano-Nakata M (2013) Functional roles of the plasticity of root system development in biomass production and water uptake under rainfed lowland condition. F Crop Res 144:288–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shane MW, McCully ME, Canny MJ, Pate JS, Huang C, Ngo H, Lambers H (2010) Seasonal water relations of Lyginia barbata (Southern rush) in relation to root xylem development and summer dormancy of root apices. New Phytol 185(4):1025–1037

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siopongco JD, Yamauchi A, Salekdeh H, Bennett J, Wade LJ (2006) Growth and water use response of doubled-haploid rice lines to drought and rewatering during the vegetative stage. Plant Prod Sci 9(2):141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siopongco JD, Sekiya K, Yamauchi A, Egdane J, Ismail AM, Wade LJ (2008) Stomatal responses in rainfed lowland rice to partial soil drying; evidence for root signals. Plant Prod Sci 11(1):28–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swarup K, Benková E, Swarup R, Casimiro I, Péret B, Yang Y, Parry G, Nielsen E, De Smet I, Vanneste S (2008) The auxin influx carrier LAX3 promotes lateral root emergence. Nat Cell Biol 10(8):946–954

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uga Y, Sugimoto K, Ogawa S, Rane J, Ishitani M, Hara N, Kitomi Y, Inukai Y, Ono K, Kanno N (2013) Control of root system architecture by DEEPER ROOTING 1 increases rice yield under drought conditions. Nat Genet 45(9):1097–1102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares F, Gianoli E, Gómez JM (2007) Ecological limits to plant phenotypic plasticity. New Phytol 176(4):749–763

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandoorne B, Mathieu A-S, Van den, Ende W, Vergauwen R, Périlleux C, Javaux M, Lutts S (2012) Water stress drastically reduces root growth and inulin yield in Cichorium intybus (var. sativum) independently of photosynthesis. J Exp Bot 63(12):4359–4373

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward AW, Bartel B (2005) Auxin: regulation, action, and interaction. Ann Bot 95(5):707–735

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xu W, Jia L, Shi W, Liang J, Zhou F, Li Q, Zhang J (2013) Abscisic acid accumulation modulates auxin transport in the root tip to enhance proton secretion for maintaining root growth under moderate water stress. New Phytol 197:139–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhu Q, Wang W (2001) Hormonal changes in the grains of rice subjected to water stress during grain filling. Plant Physiol 127(1):315–323

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Yang L, Yang Y, Ouyang Z (2004) Rice root growth and nutrient uptake as influenced by organic manure in continuously and alternately flooded paddy soils. Agric Water Manag 70(1):67–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue B, Xue W, Xiong L, Yu X, Luo L, Cui K, Jin D, Xing Y, Zhang Q (2006) Genetic basis of drought resistance at reproductive stage in rice: separation of drought tolerance from drought avoidance. Genetics 172(2):1213–1228

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Qu W (2003) The experimental guide for plant physiology, 3rd edn. Higher Education Press, Beijing, pp 128–129 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Xue Y, Wang Z, Yang J, Zhang J (2009) An alternate wetting and moderate soil drying regime improves root and shoot growth in rice. Crop Sci 49(6):2246–2260

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge generous financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31471443) and a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Production Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Huimin Han, Zhongwei Tian, Yonghui Fan, Yakun Cui, Jian Cai, Dong Jiang, Weixing Cao & Tingbo Dai

Authors
  1. Huimin Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhongwei Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yonghui Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yakun Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jian Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dong Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Weixing Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Tingbo Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tingbo Dai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Han, H., Tian, Z., Fan, Y. et al. Water-deficit treatment followed by re-watering stimulates seminal root growth associated with hormone balance and photosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 77, 201–210 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-015-0053-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-015-0053-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation