Hydrogen sulphide may be a novel downstream signal molecule in nitric oxide‐induced heat tolerance of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment cell and environment, 2013-08, Vol.36 (8), p.1564-1572
• Main Authors: LI, ZHONG‐GUANG, YANG, SHI‐ZHONG, LONG, WEI‐BIAO, YANG, GUO‐XIAN, SHEN, ZHEN‐ZHEN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimatization; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; heat stress; Hot Temperature; Hydrogen Sulfide - analysis; Hydrogen Sulfide - pharmacology; Morpholines - pharmacology; Nitric Oxide - pharmacology; Nitroprusside - pharmacology; Organothiophosphorus Compounds - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - physiology; Seedlings - drug effects; Seedlings - physiology; Signal Transduction; Zea mays - drug effects; Zea mays - physiology
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.12092

Nitric oxide (NO) is a second messenger with multifunction that is involved in plant growth, development and the acquisition of stress tolerance. In recent years, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has been found to have similar functions, but crosstalk between NO and H2S in the acquisition of heat tolerance is not clear. In this study, pretreatment with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) improved the survival percentage of maize seedlings and alleviated an increase in electrolyte leakage and a decrease in tissue vitality as well as accumulation of malondialdehyde, indicating that pretreatment with SNP improved the heat tolerance of maize seedlings. In addition, pretreatment with SNP enhanced the activity of L‐cystine desulfhydrase, which, in turn, induced accumulation of endogenous H2S, while application of H2S donors, NaHS and GYY4137, increased endogenous H2S content, followed by mitigating increase in electrolyte leakage and enhanced survival percentage of seedlings under heat stress. Interestingly, SNP‐induced heat tolerance was enhanced by application of NaHS and GYY4137, but was eliminated by inhibitors of H2S synthesis DL‐propargylglycine, aminooxyacetic acid, potassium pyruvate and hydroxylamine, and the H2S scavenger hypotaurine. All of the above‐mentioned results suggest that SNP pretreatment could improve heat tolerance, and H2S may be a downstream signal molecule in NO‐induced heat tolerance of maize seedlings. Pretreatment with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) improved survival percentage of maize seedlings and alleviated an increase in electrolyte leakage and decrease in tissue vitality as well as accumulation of malondialdehyde. In addition, pretreatment with SNP enhanced the activity of L‐cystine desulfhydrase, which in turn induced accumulation of endogenous H2S, while application of H2S donors, NaHS and GYY4137, increased endogenous H2S content, followed by mitigating increase in electrolyte leakage and enhancing survival percentage of seedlings under heat stress. Interestingly, SNP‐induced heat tolerance was enhanced by application of NaHS and GYY4137, but eliminated by inhibitors of H2S synthesis DL‐propargylglycine, aminooxy acetic acid, potassium pyruvate and hydroxylamine, and the H2S scavenger hypotaurine.