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Ammonium ion, ethylene, and NaCl-induced senescence of detached rice leaves

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Abstract

The possibility that NH4 + accumulation is linkedto the senescence of detached rice (Oryza sativa) leavesinduced by NaCl was investigated. NaCl was effective in promoting senescenceandin increasing NH4 + content of detached rice leaves.NaCl-promoted senescence is mainly due to the effect of both Na+ andCl- ions. NaCl had no or slight effect on relative water content,suggesting that an osmotic effect is unlikely to be a major factor contributingto senescence of these leaves. NaCl-induced NH4 +accumulation was due to enhanced nitrate reduction and decreased glutaminesynthetase activity. Exogenous NH4Cl, which caused an accumulationofNH4 + in detached rice leaves, also promoted senescence.Itwas found that an increase in NH4 + content preceded theoccurrence of senescence caused by NaCl. Results also show that NaCl-promotedsenescence is unlikely to be due to the lack of glutamate, glutamine,aspartate,and asparagine. The current results suggest that NH4 +accumulation is linked to NaCl-induced rice leaf senescence. Since ethylene isknown to be a potent promoter of leaf senescence, we also investigated the roleof ethylene in the regulation of NH4 +-promoted senescenceof detached rice leaves. NaCl or NH4Cl treatment resulted in adecrease of ethylene production. Evidence was presented to show thatNH4 + accumulation in detached rice leaves does not changetissue sensitivity to ethylene. Clearly, the possible involvement of ethyleneinNH4 +-promoted senescence is excluded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China

    Chuan Chi Lin, Yi Ting Hsu & Ching Huei Kao

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  1. Chuan Chi Lin
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  2. Yi Ting Hsu
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  3. Ching Huei Kao
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Correspondence to Ching Huei Kao.

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Lin, C.C., Hsu, Y.T. & Kao, C.H. Ammonium ion, ethylene, and NaCl-induced senescence of detached rice leaves. Plant Growth Regulation 37, 85–92 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020359825056

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