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Catechol, a major component of smoke, influences primary root growth and root hair elongation through reactive oxygen species‐mediated redox signaling
Author(s) -
Wang Ming,
Schoettner Matthias,
Xu Shuqing,
Paetz Christian,
Wilde Julia,
Baldwin Ian T.,
Groten Karin
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.14317
Subject(s) - reactive oxygen species , auxin , seedling , biology , root hair , elongation , botany , transcriptome , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene , gene expression , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , metallurgy
SummaryNicotiana attenuata germinates from long‐lived seedbanks in native soils after fires. Although smoke signals have been known to break seed dormancy, whether they also affect seedling establishment and root development remains unclear. In order to test this, seedlings were treated with smoke solutions. Seedlings responded in a dose‐dependent manner with significantly increased primary root lengths, due mainly to longitudinal cell elongation, increased numbers of lateral roots and impaired root hair development. Bioassay‐driven fractionations and NMR were used to identify catechol as the main active compound for the smoke‐induced root phenotype. The transcriptome analysis revealed that mainly genes related to auxin biosynthesis and redox homeostasis were altered after catechol treatment. However, histochemical analyses of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) and the inability of auxin applications to rescue the phenotype clearly indicated that highly localized changes in the root's redox‐status, rather than in levels of auxin, are the primary effector. Moreover, H 2 O 2 application rescued the phenotype in a dose‐dependent manner. Chemical cues in smoke not only initiate seed germination, but also influence seedling root growth; understanding how these cues work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which plants adapt to post‐fire environments.