title: Hydrogen-rich water alleviates aluminum-induced inhibition of root elongation in alfalfa via decreasing nitric oxide production.
abstract: One of the earliest and distinct symptoms of aluminum (Al) toxicity is the inhibition of root elongation. Although hydrogen gas (H2) is recently described as an important bio-regulator in plants, whether and how H2 regulates Al-induced inhibition of root elongation is largely unknown. To address these gaps, hydrogen-rich water (HRW) was used to investigate a physiological role of H2 and its possible molecular mechanism. Individual or simultaneous (in particular) exposure of alfalfa seedlings to Al, or a fresh but not old nitric oxide (NO)-releasing compound sodium nitroprusside (SNP), not only increased NO production, but also led to a significant inhibition of root elongation. Above responses were differentially alleviated by pretreatment with 50% saturation of HRW. The addition of HRW also alleviated the appearance of Al toxicity symptoms, including the improvement of seedling growth and less accumulation of Al. Subsequent results revealed that the removal of NO by the NO scavenger, similar to HRW, could decrease NO production and alleviate Al- or SNP-induced inhibition of root growth. Thus, we proposed that HRW alleviated Al-induced inhibition of alfalfa root elongation by decreasing NO production. Such findings may be applicable to enhance crop yield and improve stress tolerance.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Weiti
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Kaikai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: wbshenh@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wenbiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D014867:Water; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D000535:Aluminum; C045951:tungstate; D006416:Hematoxylin
keywords: Aluminum (Al) toxicity; Hydrogen-rich water; Medicago sativa; Nitric oxide; Root elongation inhibition