ISSN:
1365-3040
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Cytosolic Ca2+· ([Ca2+]i, and elongation growth were measured in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. Exposure of plant tissues to high NaCl and abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations results in a reduction in the rate of growth, but the mechanism by which growth is inhibited is not understood. Both NaCl and ABA treatments are known to influence [Ca2+]i, and in this study we measured the effects of salinity and ABA on [Ca2+]i in cells from the meristematic region of Arabidopsis roots. The Ca2+-sensitive dye Fura-2 and ratiometric techniques were used to measure [Ca2+]i in cells of the root meristem region. Resting [Ca2+]i was found to be between 100 and 200 μmol m−3 in roots of untreated plants. Resting [Ca2+]i changed in response to changes in the [Ca2+] surrounding growing roots. An increase of external [Ca2+] increased [Ca2+]i; conversely, a decrease of external [Ca2+] decreased [Ca2+]i. Exposure of roots to NaCl caused a rapid reduction of [Ca2+]i, a response that was proportional to the external NaCl concentration. Thus, as the NaCl concentration was increased, [Ca2+]i in root meristematic cells decreased. Root elongation was also inhibited in proportion to the external NaCl concentration, with maximal inhibition occurring at 120 mol m−3 NaCl. The [Ca2+]i of root meristem cells also changed in response to ABA, and the magnitude of the effect of ABA was dependent upon ABA concentration. Treatment with 0.2 mmol m−3 ABA caused a momentary increase in [Ca2+]i followed by a decrease after 15 min, but 10 mmol m−3 ABA caused an immediate decline in [Ca2+]i. There was a strong positive correlation between [Ca2+]i and root elongation rates. Experiments with the ABA-deficient Arabidopsis mutant aba-3 indicated that the reduction in [Ca2+]i brought about by NaCl was unlikely to be mediated via changes in endogenous ABA. Experiments with solutes such as sorbitol, KCl and NaNO3 indicated that the effects of NaCl could be mimicked by other solutes and was not specific for NaCl.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.1996.tb00007.x
