title: Soybean (Glycine max) root lignification induced by ferulic acid. The possible mode of action.
abstract: Ferulic acid, in the form of feruloyl CoA, occupies a central position as an intermediate in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Due to the allelopathic function, its effects were tested on root growth, H(2)O(2) and lignin contents, and activities of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.195) and peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) root seedlings. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in half-strength Hoagland's solution (pH 6.0), with or without 1.0 mM ferulic acid in a growth chamber (25 degrees C, 12/12 hr light/dark photoperiod, irradiance of 280 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) for 24 or 48 hr. Exogenously supplied ferulic acid induced premature cessation of root growth, with disintegration of the root cap, compression of cells in the quiescent center, increase of the vascular cylinder diameter, and earlier lignification of the metaxylem. Moreover, the allelochemical decreased CAD activity and H(2)O(2) level and increased the anionic isoform PODa5 activity and lignin content. The lignin monomer composition of ferulic acid-exposed roots revealed a significant increase of guaiacyl (G) units. When applied jointly with piperonylic acid (an inhibitor of the cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, C4H), ferulic acid increased lignin content. By contrast, the application of 3,4-(methylenedioxy) cinnamic acid (an inhibitor of the 4-coumarate:CoA ligase, 4CL) with ferulic acid did not. Taken together, these results suggest that ferulic acid may be channeled into the phenylpropanoid pathway (by the 4CL reaction) and, further, may increase the lignin monomer amount solidifying the cell wall and restricting the root growth.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Maringá, Av. Colombo, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: M L L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: K S M
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mangolin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ferrarese-Filho
mesh_terms: D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013025:Glycine max / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D008031:Lignin; C004999:ferulic acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; C018656:cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase; D009195:Peroxidase