Topsoil drying combined with increased sulfur supply leads to enhanced aliphatic glucosinolates in Brassica juncea leaves and roots.
The decrease of water availability is leading to an urgent demand to reduce the plants' water supply. This study evaluates the effect of topsoil drying, combined with varying sulfur (S) supply on glucosinolates in Brassica juncea in order to reveal whether a partial root drying may already lead to a drought-induced glucosinolate increase promoted by an enhanced S supply. Without decreasing biomass, topsoil drying initiated an increase in aliphatic glucosinolates in leaves and in topsoil dried roots supported by increased S supply. Simultaneously, abscisic acid was determined, particularly in dehydrated roots, associated with an increased abscisic acid concentration in leaves under topsoil drying. This indicates that the dehydrated roots were the direct interface for the plants' stress response and that the drought-induced accumulation of aliphatic glucosinolates is related to abscisic acid formation. Indole and aromatic glucosinolates decreased, suggesting that these glucosinolates are less involved in the plants' response to drought.
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany; Department of Crop Sciences, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: tong@igzev.de.
Yu
Y
Tong
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany; Department of Aridland Agriculture, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, UAE University, P.O. Box 17555, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Elke
E
Gabriel-Neumann
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany.
Benard
B
Ngwene
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany.
Angelika
A
Krumbein
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany; Department of Crop Sciences, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
Eckhard
E
George
Institute of Food Chemistry, Hamburg School of Food Science, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Platz
Institute of Food Chemistry, Hamburg School of Food Science, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
Sascha
S
Rohn
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany.
Monika
M
Schreiner
D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009149:Mustard Plant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D005961:Glucosinolates; D012987:Soil; D013455:Sulfur
2-Propenyl glucosinolate; Abscisic acid; N:S ratio; Topsoil drying; Vegetable mustard