title: Reactive oxygen species are involved in brassinosteroid-induced stress tolerance in cucumber.
abstract: Brassinosteroids (BRs) induce plant tolerance to a wide spectrum of stresses. To study how BR induces stress tolerance, we manipulated the BR levels in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) through a chemical genetics approach and found that BR levels were positively correlated with the tolerance to photo-oxidative and cold stresses and resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus. We also showed that BR treatment enhanced NADPH oxidase activity and elevated H(2)O(2) levels in apoplast. H(2)O(2) levels were elevated as early as 3 h and returned to basal levels 3 d after BR treatment. BR-induced H(2)O(2) accumulation was accompanied by increased tolerance to oxidative stress. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase and chemical scavenging of H(2)O(2) reduced BR-induced oxidative and cold tolerance and defense gene expression. BR treatment induced expression of both regulatory genes, such as RBOH, MAPK1, and MAPK3, and genes involved in defense and antioxidant responses. These results strongly suggest that elevated H(2)O(2) levels resulting from enhanced NADPH oxidase activity are involved in the BR-induced stress tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yan-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asami
authors.forename: Zhixiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D060406:Brassinosteroids; D002777:Cholestanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D060406:Brassinosteroids; D002777:Cholestanols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010269:Paraquat; C023623:brassinolide