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The role of Euglena gracilis paramylon in modulating xylem hormone levels, photosynthesis and water‐use efficiency in Solanum lycopersicum L
Author(s) -
Scartazza Andrea,
Picciarelli Piero,
Mariotti Lorenzo,
Curadi Maurizio,
Barsanti Laura,
Gualtieri Paolo
Publication year - 2017
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 - 10.1111/ppl.12611
Subject(s) - euglena gracilis , photosynthesis , stomatal conductance , abscisic acid , jasmonic acid , xylem , abiotic component , solanum , transpiration , biology , botany , chemistry , salicylic acid , biochemistry , chloroplast , gene , paleontology
β‐1,3‐glucans such as paramylon act as elicitors in plants, modifying the hormonal levels and the physiological responses. Plant hormones affect all phases of the plant life cycle and their responses to environmental stresses, both biotic and abiotic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a root treatment with Euglena gracilis paramylon on xylem hormonal levels, photosynthetic performance and dehydration stress in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ). Paramylon granules were processed to obtain the linear fibrous structures capable to interact with tomato cell membrane. Modulation of hormone levels (abscisic acid, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid) and related physiological responses such as CO 2 assimilation rate, stomatal and mesophyll conductance, intercellular CO 2 concentration, transpiration rate, water‐use efficiency, quantum yield of photosystem II and leaf water potential were investigated. The results indicate a clear dose‐dependent effect of paramylon on the hormonal content of xylem sap, photosynthetic performance and dehydration tolerance. Paramylon has the capability to enhance plant defense capacity against abiotic stress, such as drought, by modulating the conductance to CO 2 diffusion from air to the carboxylation sites and improving the water‐use efficiency.