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Aquaporin Functionality in Roots of Zea mays in Relation to the Interactive Effects of Boron and Salinity
Author(s) -
Bastías E.,
FernándezGarcía N.,
Carvajal M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1055/s-2004-820889
Subject(s) - salinity , biology , zea mays , stomatal conductance , aquaporin , chlorophyll , horticulture , botany , osmotic pressure , saline , photosynthesis , agronomy , biochemistry , ecology , endocrinology
Zea mays L. cv. amylacea, a plant tolerant of B and salinity, was used to determine the involvement of aquaporin functionality in the interactive effects of B and salinity. Also, growth, chlorophyll concentration, and water relations were studied. While growth and chlorophyll concentration did not show noticeable changes under saline conditions, the decrease in leaf water potential and osmotic potential, together with the marked decrease of stomatal conductance and root hydraulic conductance, showed that the plants were adjusted osmotically. However, no effect of B was observed. The very weak response of the Lp c of salt‐stressed roots to Hg suggested that water channels were greatly reduced in number or, if present, were non‐functional. The evidence that substantial B movement can occur through diffusion and channel‐mediated transport is compelling, and could account for B uptake under conditions of adequate or greater B supply. Therefore, the reduction in the functionality of aquaporins for NaCl‐treated plants could be related to the reduction of B concentrations in roots and leaves in B + NaCl‐treated plants, in comparison with plants treated only with B.