title: β-expansins are divergently abundant in maize cultivars that contrast in their degree of salt resistance.
abstract: Zea mays L. exhibits a strong growth reduction in response to NaCl-induced stress that is attributable to a decline of cell division and elongation. Wall-loosening expansins are of major impact for cell wall extensibility and growth. This study provides an analysis of the impact of an 8-d 100 mM NaCl stress treatment on the mRNA abundance of the α-and β-expansin sub-families using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Moreover, we provide a comparative study of plants that contrast in their degree of salt resistance in order to reveal contrasting features of physiological functions that may bear a causal relation to the differential response of plants to salt. In result, the transcript abundance of wall-loosening β-expansins was impaired in size-reduced leaves of the salt-sensitive hybrid but not in leaves of the salt-resistant hybrid that maintained growth. This indicates a role for the β-expansins in processes related to salt resistance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph-Martin
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Geilfus
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Karl H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mühling
authors.lastname: Mühling
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zörb
mesh_terms: D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride