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A new biochemical marker for aluminium tolerance in plants
Author(s) -
Maltais Kim,
Houde Mario
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-3054.2002.1150109.x
Subject(s) - meristem , superoxide dismutase , in vivo , enzyme , biology , population , biochemistry , enzyme assay , pathogenesis related protein , chemistry , gene , gene expression , genetics , demography , sociology
Al was shown to elicit the induction of several pathogenesis‐related genes, suggesting that a common signalling pathway may be involved in the early response to Al and pathogens. However, we found no evidence of oxidative burst involving either H 2 O 2 or O 2 – during the first hours of Al exposure distinguishing the early response to Al from a common response to pathogen infection. We identified a strong superoxide dismutase insensitive nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity in the root tips of control plants. This activity was rapidly inhibited by Al exposure in the meristematic/distal transition zones of roots in all species examined. In wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), the inhibition of NBT reduction occurred in less than 1 min in vivo suggesting that Al either directly blocks an enzyme responsible for NBT reduction, or affects a signal pathway involved in the regulation of this activity. The sensitivity of NBT reduction to KCN and NaN 3 suggests that an enzymatic, rather than a chemical reaction is involved. In tolerant plants, the inhibition of NBT reduction caused by Al was reversed within 24 h of exposure. The level of recovery was a function of the degree of Al tolerance. We show that NBT reduction is a simple biochemical marker allowing the rapid identification of tolerant individuals within a segregating population.