Sulfur metabolism in <i>Allium cepa</i> is hardly affected by chloride and sulfate salinity

Salinity as a major agricultural problem can affect crop growth and quality. Onion (Allium cepa L.) plant contains a wide variety of sulfur-containing compounds which may be involved in plant protection against salt stress. In the current study, a similar reduction in growth caused by chloride and sulfate salts was observed when onion was exposed to equimolar concentrations of Na+. Also, no difference was observed for shoot/root ratio and dry matter content of roots and shoots. Plants accumulated Na+ and the respective anions (chloride and sulfate) which in turn caused changes in the content of other nutrients. The content of potassium and calcium was decreased more than the other elements by both sodium salts. Sulfate salinity resulted in substantial increase in total sulfur and sulfate content but chloride salinity affected neither the total sulfur nor sulfate content of the roots and shoots, only in onion exposed to 200 mM chloride salt, those of roots and shoots were reduced. Furthermore, the water-soluble non-protein thiol content as well as the content of alliin remained rather unaffected. In conclusion, either salts affected the uptake and distribution of sulfate in onion, but had no or only a minor effect on the plant sulfur metabolism

Evolutionary Relationships and Functional Diversity of Plant Sulfate Transporters

Sulfate is an essential nutrient cycled in nature. Ion transporters that specifically facilitate the transport of sulfate across the membranes are found ubiquitously in living organisms. The phylogenetic analysis of known sulfate transporters and their homologous proteins from eukaryotic organisms indicate two evolutionarily distinct groups of sulfate transport systems. One major group named Tribe 1 represents yeast and fungal SUL, plant SULTR, and animal SLC26 families. The evolutionary origin of SULTR family members in land plants and green algae is suggested to be common with yeast and fungal SUL and animal anion exchangers (SLC26). The lineage of plant SULTR family is expanded into four subfamilies (SULTR1–SULTR4) in land plant species. By contrast, the putative SULTR homologs from Chlorophyte green algae are in two separate lineages; one with the subfamily of plant tonoplast-localized sulfate transporters (SULTR4), and the other diverged before the appearance of lineages for SUL, SULTR, and SLC26. There also was a group of yet undefined members of putative sulfate transporters in yeast and fungi divergent from these major lineages in Tribe 1. The other distinct group is Tribe 2, primarily composed of animal sodium-dependent sulfate/carboxylate transporters (SLC13) and plant tonoplast-localized dicarboxylate transporters (TDT). The putative sulfur-sensing protein (SAC1) and SAC1-like transporters (SLT) of Chlorophyte green algae, bryophyte, and lycophyte show low degrees of sequence similarities with SLC13 and TDT. However, the phylogenetic relationship between SAC1/SLT and the other two families, SLC13 and TDT in Tribe 2, is not clearly supported. In addition, the SAC1/SLT family is absent in the angiosperm species analyzed. The present study suggests distinct evolutionary trajectories of sulfate transport systems for land plants and green algae

Soil strength influences wheat root interactions with soil macropores

Deep rooting is critical for access to water and nutrients found in subsoil. However, damage to soil structure and the natural increase in soil strength with depth, often impedes root penetration. Evidence suggests that roots use macropores (soil cavities greater than 75μm) to bypass strong soil layers. If roots have to exploit structures, a key trait conferring deep rooting will be the ability to locate existing pore networks; a trait called trematotropism.In this study, artificial macropores were created in repacked soil columns at bulk densities of 1.6g cm‐3 and 1.2g cm‐3, representing compact and loose soil. Near isogenic lines of wheat, Rht‐B1a and Rht‐B1c, were planted and root‐macropore interactions were visualized and quantified using X‐ray Computed Tomography.In compact soil, 68.8% of root‐macropore interactions resulted in pore colonisation, compared to 12.5% in loose soil. Changes in root growth trajectory following pore interaction were also quantified, with 21.0% of roots changing direction (±3°) in loose soil compared to 76.0% in compact soil.These results indicate colonisation of macropores is an important strategy of wheat roots in compacted subsoil. Management practices to reduce subsoil compaction and encourage macropore formation could offer significant advantage in helping wheat roots penetrate deeper into subsoil

Chloride and sulfate salinity differently affect biomass, mineral nutrient composition and expression of sulfate transport and assimilation genes in Brassica rapa

Background and aimsIt remains uncertain whether a higher toxicity of either NaCl or Na2SO4 in plants is due to an altered toxicity of sodium or a different toxicity of the anions. The aim of this study was to determine the contributions of sodium and the two anions to the different toxicities of chloride and sulfate salinity. The effects of the different salts on physiological parameters, mineral nutrient composition and expression of genes of sulfate transport and assimilation were studied. Methods Seedlings of Brassica rapa L. have been exposed to NaCl, Na2SO4, KCl and K2SO4 to assess the potential synergistic effect of the anions with the toxic cation sodium, as well as their separate toxicities if accompanied by the non-toxic cation potassium. Biomass production, stomatal resistance and Fv/fm were measured to determine differences in ionic and osmotic stress caused by the salts. Anion content (HPLC), mineral nutrient composition (ICP-AES) and gene expression of sulfate transporters and sulfur assimilatory enzymes (real-time qPCR) were analyzed. ResultsNa2SO4 impeded growth to a higher extent than NaCl and was the only salt to decrease Fv/fm. K2SO4 reduced plant growth more than NaCl. Analysis of mineral nutrient contents of plant tissue revealed that differences in sodium accumulation could not explain the increased toxicity of sulfate over chloride salts. Shoot contents of calcium, manganese and phosphorus were decreased more strongly by exposure to Na2SO4 than by NaCl. The expression levels of genes encoding proteins for sulfate transport and assimilation were differently affected by the different salts. While gene expression of primary sulfate uptake at roots was down-regulated upon exposure to sulfate salts, presumably to prevent an excessive uptake, genes encoding for the vacuolar sulfate transporter Sultr4;1 were upregulated. Gene expression of ATP sulfurylase was hardly affected by salinity in shoot and roots, the transcript level of 5′-adenylylsulfate reductase (APR) was decreased upon exposure to sulfate salts in roots. Sulfite reductase was decreased in the shoot by all salts similarly and remained unaffected in roots. Conclusions The higher toxicity of Na2SO4 over NaCl in B. rapa seemed to be due to an increased toxicity of sulfate over chloride, as indicated by the higher toxicity of K2SO4 over KCl. Thus, toxicity of sodium was not promoted by sulfate. The observed stronger negative effect on the tissue contents of calcium, manganese and phosphorus could contribute to the increased toxicity of sulfate over chloride. The upregulation of Sultr4;1 and 4;2 under sulfate salinity might lead to a detrimental efflux of stored sulfate from the vacuole into the cytosol and the chloroplasts. It remains unclear why expression of Sultr4;1 and 4;2 was upregulated. A possible explanation is a control of the gene expression of these transporters by the sulfate gradient across the tonoplast

Nickel toxicity in Brassica rapa seedlings: Impact on sulfur metabolism and mineral nutrient content

Weltweit haben anthropogene Aktivitäten zu erhöhten Nickel­gehalten im Boden (Ni2+) geführt, was sich negativ auf die Pflanzenproduktivität auswirken kann. Der physiologische Hintergrund der Ni2+ Phytotoxizität ist noch weitgehend unklar. Eine zehntägige Exposition von Brassica rapa Sämlingen mit 1, 2 und 5 μM NiCl2 führte zu stark erhöhten Ni Gehalten im Gewebe, einer verringerten Biomasseproduktion und zu Blattchlorosen bei Konzentrationen von ≥ 2 μM Ni2+. Bei einer Konzentration von 5 μM Ni2+ war kein Pflanzenwachstum mehr zu beobachten. Eine Ni Toxizität trat auf, wenn der Ni Gehalt im Sprosses 1,0 μmol g–1 Trockengewicht und der in der Wurzel 23 μmol g–1 Trockengewicht überschritt. Eine Ni2+ Exposition von 2 μM beein­flusste den Mineralstoffgehalt in Spross und Wurzel nur geringfügig. Daher beeinflusste eine Ni2+ Exposition die Gehalte an Schwefelmetaboliten in der Pflanze kaum. Bei ≥ 1 μM Ni2+ war der Gesamtschwefelgehalt der Wurzel nur geringfügig erniedrigt, was vollständig auf einen verminderten Sulfatgehalt zurückzuführen war. Darüber hinaus war der Gehalt an wasserlöslichen Nicht-Protein-Thiolen sowohl im Spross als auch in der Wurzel nur bei 5 μM Ni2+ erhöht. Aus diesen Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass der Schwefelstoffwechsel wahrscheinlich nicht direkt an den Ni2+ Toleranzmechanismen von B. rapa beteiligt ist.Throughout the world anthropogenic activity has resulted in enhanced soil nickel (Ni2+) levels, which may negatively affect plant productivity. The physiological background of Ni2+ phytotoxicity is still largely unclear. Ten-day exposures of Brassica rapa seedlings to 1, 2 and 5 μM NiCl2 resulted in strongly enhanced tissue Ni levels, a decreased biomass production and leaf chlorosis at ≥ 2 μM Ni2+. At 5 μM Ni2+ plant growth was completely halted. Ni toxicity occurred when the content of the shoot exceeded 1.0 μmol g–1 dry weight and that of the root, 23 μmol g–1 dry weight. Ni2+ exposure at ≤ 2 μM only slightly affected the mineral nutrient content of both shoot and root. Hence, Ni2+ exposure hardly affected the sulfur metabolite content of the plant. At ≥ 1 μM Ni2+ the total sulfur content of the root was only slightly lowered, which could fully be ascribed to a decreased sulfate content. Moreover, the water-soluble non-protein thiol content of both shoot and root was only enhanced at 5 μM Ni2+. From these results it was clear that sulfur metabolism was unlikely to be directly involved in the Ni2+ tolerance mechanisms of B. rapa

Interactions of sulfate with other nutrients as revealed by H2S fumigation of Chinese cabbage

Sulfur deficiency in plants has severe impacts on both growth and nutrient composition. Fumigation with sub-lethal concentrations of H2S facilitates the supply of reduced sulfur via the leaves while sulfate is depleted from the roots. This restores growth while sulfate levels in the plant tissue remain low. In the present study this system was used to reveal interactions of sulfur with other nutrients in the plant and to ascertain whether these changes are due to the absence or presence of sulfate or rather to changes in growth and organic sulfur. There was a complex reaction of the mineral composition to sulfur deficiency, however, the changes in content of many nutrients were prevented by H2S fumigation. Under sulfur deficiency these nutrients accumulated on a fresh weight basis but were diluted on a dry weight basis, presumably due to a higher dry matter content. The pattern differed, however, between leaves and roots which led to changes in shoot to root partitioning. Only the potassium, molybdenum and zinc contents were strongly linked to the sulfate supply. Potassium was the only nutrient amongst those measured which showed a positive correlation with sulfur content in shoots, highlighting a role as a counter cation for sulfate during xylem loading and vacuolar storage in leaves. This was supported by an accumulation of potassium in roots of the sulfur-deprived plants. Molybdenum and zinc increased substantially under sulfur deficiency, which was only partly prevented by H2S fumigation. While the causes of increased molybdenum under sulfur deficiency have been previously studied, the relation between sulfate and zinc uptake needs further clarification

Time-intensive geoelectrical monitoring under winter wheat

Several studies have explored the potential of electrical resistivity tomography to monitor changes in soil moisture associated with the root water uptake of different crops. Such studies usually use a set of limited below-ground measurements throughout the growth season but are often unable to get a complete picture of the dynamics of the processes. With the development of high-throughput phenotyping platforms, we now have the capability to collect more frequent above-ground measurements, such as canopy cover, enabling the comparison with below-ground data. In this study hourly DC resistivity data were collected under the Field Scanalyzer platform at Rothamsted Research with different winter wheat varieties and nitrogen treatments in 2018 and 2019. Results from both years demonstrate the importance of applying the temperature correction to interpret hourly electrical conductivity (EC) data. Crops which received larger amounts of nitrogen showed larger canopy cover and more rapid changes in EC, especially during large rainfall events. The varieties showed contrasted heights although this does not appear to have influenced EC dynamics. The daily cyclic component of the EC signal was extracted by decomposing the time series. A shift in this daily component was observed during the growth season. For crops with appreciable difference in canopy cover, high frequency DC resistivity monitoring was able to distinguish the different below-ground behaviors. The results also highlight how coarse temporal sampling may affect interpretation of resistivity data from crop monitoring studies

Biofortification of UK food crops with selenium

Se is an essential element for animals. In man low dietary Se intakes are associated with health disorders including oxidative stress-related conditions, reduced fertility and immune functions and an increased risk of cancers. Although the reference nutrient intakes for adult females and males in the UK are 60 and 75 μg Se/d respectively, dietary Se intakes in the UK have declined from >60 μg Se/d in the 1970s to 35 μg Se/d in the 1990s, with a concomitant decline in human Se status. This decline in Se intake and status has been attributed primarily to the replacement of milling wheat having high levels of grain Se and grown on high-Se soils in North America with UK-sourced wheat having low levels of grain Se and grown on low-Se soils. An immediate solution to low dietary Se intake and status is to enrich UK-grown food crops using Se fertilisers (agronomic biofortification). Such a strategy has been adopted with success in Finland. It may also be possible to enrich food crops in the longer term by selecting or breeding crop varieties with enhanced Se-accumulation characteristics (genetic biofortification). The present paper will review the potential for biofortification of UK food crops with Se

Accounting for heterogeneity in θ-σ relationship:application to wheat phenotyping using ΕMI

Geophysical methods, such as electromagnetic induction (EMI), can be effective for monitoring changes in soil moisture at the field scale, particularly in agricultural applications. The electrical conductivity (σ) inferred from EMI needs to be converted to soil moisture content (θ) using an appropriate relationship. Typically, a single global relationship is applied to an entire agricultural field, however, soil heterogeneity at the field scale may limit the effectiveness of such an approach. One application area that may suffer from such an effect is crop phenotyping. Selecting crop varieties based on their root traits is important for crop breeding and maximizing yield. Hence, high throughput tools for phenotyping the root system architecture and activity at the field-scale are needed. Water uptake is a major root activity and, under appropriate conditions, can be approximated by measuring changes in soil moisture from time-lapse geophysical surveys. We examine here the effect of heterogeneity in the θ-σ relationship using a crop phenotyping study for illustration. In this study, the θ-σ relationship was found to vary substantially across a field site. To account for this, we propose a range of local (plot specific) θ-σ models. We show that the large number of parameters required for these models can be estimated from baseline σ and θ measurements. Finally, we compare the use of global (field scale) and local (plot scale) models with respect to ranking varieties based on the estimated soil moisture content change