title: Adaptative response of Vitis root to anoxia.
abstract: The effect of anoxia on the energy economy of root cells was studied by measuring heat production, ethanol and ATP production, K(+) fluxes and electrical activity in two Vitis species, V. riparia and V. rupestris, that differ in their tolerance to anoxia. Anoxia triggered a marked decrease of metabolic activity (measured by microcalorimetry) and of ATP levels in both species. In V. riparia after the first 2 h of anoxia, the decrease in the rate of heat production was not associated with a further significant decrease in ATP content, whereas in V. rupestris the ATP level continued to decrease until very low values were reached. The concomitant increase in the rate of ethanol production did not compensate for the decreased aerobic ATP supply. In V. rupestris, anoxia typically led to energy deficit and ATP imbalance, together with the subsequent disruption of ion homeostasis and cell death. In V. riparia, the strong decrease in K(+) membrane permeability together with the fast down-regulation of the electrical signals allowed the cells to avoid severe ion imbalances during prolonged anoxic episodes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Internazionale di Neurobiologia Vegetale, Dipartimento di Ortoflorofrutticoltura, Polo Scientifico, Università di Firenze, Sesto F.no (FI), Italy. stefano.mancuso@unifi.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marras
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008954:Models, Biological; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D027843:Vitis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011188:Potassium