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Photosynthetic Responses of a Wheat Mutant (Rht-B1c) with Altered DELLA Proteins to Salt Stress

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Abstract

Salinity increases in the world’s land area and significantly affects the rate of photosynthesis and corresponding plant growth. In this study, the impact of salt stress (200 mM NaCl equivalent to an electrical conductivity of 18.6 mS cm−1) on the photosynthetic apparatus and some growth parameters were investigated in wheat DELLA mutant (Rht-B1c) and wild-type (Rht-B1a) seedlings grown on a half-strength Hoagland solution. Results revealed that salt toxicity was alleviated in the Rht-B1c mutant compared to the Rht-B1a wild type, as manifested by less-reduced leaf pigment content, relative water content, and photochemical activity of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) after a 9-day salt exposure of plants. Compared to the wild-type wheat, a higher capacity for PSI-dependent cyclic electron flow, preventing the photosynthetic apparatus from oxidative damage, was observed in the mutant plants before and after salt treatment. In addition, an increase of PsaB proteins was detected in the mutant plants after long-term salt stress unlike the wild type. The observed higher oxidation level of P700 (P700+) in the mutant was consistent with higher abundance of PSI-related protein complexes. The data demonstrated that alterations in thylakoid membrane proteins and/or their structural reorganization in wheat DELLA mutant (Rht-B1c) significantly contribute to the alleviation of salt-induced damage of the photosynthetic apparatus. Molecular mechanisms involved in the photosynthetic responses of wheat DELLA mutants to salt stress are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Maida Jusovic acknowledged the support of Erasmus Mundus program under the project: “GreenTech: Smart & Green Technologies for Innovative and Sustainable Societies in Western Balkans.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 21, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Maida Jusovic, Maya Y. Velitchkova, Emilia L. Apostolova & Anelia G. Dobrikova

  2. University of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, 8 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1756, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Maida Jusovic

  3. Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 21, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Svetlana P. Misheva

  4. Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany

    Andreas Börner

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  1. Maida Jusovic
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  2. Maya Y. Velitchkova
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  5. Emilia L. Apostolova
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  6. Anelia G. Dobrikova
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Correspondence to Anelia G. Dobrikova.

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Svetlana P. Misheva Previously known as Svetlana P. Landjeva.

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Jusovic, M., Velitchkova, M.Y., Misheva, S.P. et al. Photosynthetic Responses of a Wheat Mutant (Rht-B1c) with Altered DELLA Proteins to Salt Stress. J Plant Growth Regul 37, 645–656 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9764-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9764-9

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