Abstract
In order to understand the mechanism of action of the phenolic compound 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, we tested its effect on tobacco root membrane potential. Tobacco root segments, excised from micropropagated plants grown in liquid media, were perfused with 0.1–5 mM 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Activity on the plasma membrane potential was compared with that obtained after perfusion with 0.05 mM indole-3-acetic acid, 0.05 mM kinetin and 0.05 mM gibberellic acid. Possible interactions between 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and plant growth regulators were evaluated by the means of successive applications. When applied to tobacco root segments, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid elicited a transient membrane depolarization. The membrane depolarization induced by 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid was followed by a repolarization phase, as for auxin applications. In roots preconditioned with the other growth regulators, the activity of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid on membrane potential was non-specifically affected. In roots preconditioned with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, indole-3-acetic acid activity on cell membrane was altered, suggesting a specific reciprocal interaction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barbier-Brygoo H, Ephritikhine G, Klambt D & Guern J (1990) The sensitivity of plant protoplasts to auxin is likely modulated by the number of receptors at the plasmalemma. In: Ranjeva R & Boudet A (eds) Signal Perception and Trasduction in Higher Plant. NATO ASI Series, Vol H47 (pp 1–12). Springer Verlag, Berlin
Bates GW & Goldsmith MHM (1983) Rapid response of the plasma-membrane potential in oat coleoptiles to auxin and other weak acids. Planta 159: 231–237
Cleland RE (1976) Rapid stimulation of K+-H+ exchange by a plant growth hormone. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 69: 333–338
Cleland RE, Prins HBA, Harper JR & Higinbotham N (1977) Rapid hormone-induced hyperpolarization of the oat coleoptile transmembrane potential. Plant Physiol. 59: 395–397
Dodds JH & Roberts LW (1985) Experiments in Plant Tissue Culture. Cambridge University Press, London
Dudits D, Bögre L, Bakó L, Dedeoglu D, Magyar Z, Kapros T, Felföldi F & Györgyey J (1993) Key components of cell cycle control during auxin-induced cell division. In: Omrod JC & Francis D (eds) Molecular and Cell Biology of the Plant Cell Cycle (pp 111–131) Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Haissig BE (1986) Metabolic processes in adventitious rooting of cuttings. In: Jackson MB (ed) New Root Formation in Plant and Cuttings (pp 141–189). Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
Karmoker JL (1985) Hormonal regulation of ion transport in plants. In: Purohit SS (ed) Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth and Development (pp 219–264) Martinus Nijhoff / Dr W Junk Publishers, Dordrecht
Klambt D (1990) A view about the function of auxin-binding proteins at plasma membranes. Plant Mol. Biol. 14: 1045–1050
Kutschera U (1994) The current status of the acid-growth hypothesis, Tansley Review No. 66. New Phytol. 126: 549–569
Maffei M, Bertea CM, Garneri F & Scannerini S (1999) Effect of benzoic acid hydroxy-and methoxy-ring substituents during cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) germination. I. Isocitrate lyase and catalase activity. Plant Sci. 141: 139–147
Marrè E, Lado P, Ferroni A & Ballarin Denti A (1974) Transmembrane potential increase induced by auxin, benzyladenine and fusicoccin. Correlation with proton extrusion and cell enlargement. Plant Sci. Lett. 2: 257–265
Mucciarelli M, Scannerini S, Gallino M & Maffei M (2000) Effects of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultured in vitro. Growth regulation in callus and organ cultures. Plant Biosys. 134: 185–192
Murashige T & Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15: 473–497
Palme K, Hesse T, Moore I, Campos N, Feldwish J, Garbers C, Hesse F & Schell J (1991) Hormonal modulation of plant growth: the role of auxin perception. Mech. Devel. 33: 97–106
Palme K (1992) Molecular analysis of plant signaling elements: relevance of eukaryotic signal transduction models. Int Rev. Cytol. 132: 223–283
Rice EL (1984) Allelopathy, second edition. Academic Press, Orlando
Romani G, Marrè MT, Bellando M, Alloatti G & Marrè E (1983) H+ extrusion and potassium uptake associated with potential hyperpolarization in maize and wheat root segments treated with permanent weak acids. Plant Physiol. 79: 734–739
Ross CW & Rayle DL (1982) Evaluation of HC secretion relative to zeatin-induced growth of detached cucumber cotyledons. Plant Physiol. 70: 1470–1474
Sacco S, Bertea CM & Maffei M (1997) Benzoic acids inhibitory mechanism on germination, K+ uptake and isocitrate lyase in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). 36th National Congress of the Italian Society of Plant Physiology, Bari, Italy, September 24-26
Sweeney BM & Thimann KV (1937) The effects of auxins on protoplasmic streaming, II. J. Gen. Physiol. 25: 439–461
Taiz L & Zeiger E (1991) Plant Physiology. The Benjamin/ Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. Redwood City, CA
Thomas J, Ross CW, Chastain CJ, Koomanoff N, Hendrix JE & van Volkenburgh E (1981) Cytokinin-induced wall extensibility in excised cotyledons of radish and cucumber. Plant Physiol. 68: 107–110
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mucciarelli, M., Sacco, S., Gallino, M. et al. Effects of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid on root membrane potential in micropropagated tobacco plants. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 62, 3–10 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006490924368
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006490924368