title: Male poplars have a stronger ability to balance growth and carbohydrate accumulation than do females in response to a short-term potassium deficiency.
abstract: Potassium (K) deficiency influences plant performance, such as ion uptake and carbohydrate transport. However, little is known about differences between males and females in response to K deficiency. In this study, dry matter accumulation, photosynthetic capacity, allocation patterns of K(+) , Na(+) and carbohydrates, and ultrastructural changes in males and females of Populus cathayana exposed to K deficiency were investigated. The results indicated that males maintained a significantly higher K(+) content and K(+) /Na(+) ratio in leaves and stems than did females under K deficiency. Moreover, K deficiency significantly increased the sucrose content of females, whereas no significant effect on males was detected. In addition, a comparative analysis showed that males allocated more resources to roots, while females allocated more to leaves, which resulted in sexually different root/shoot (R/S) ratios. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observations showed that males suffered fewer injuries than did females. These results suggested that males have a better ability to cope with K deficiency. In addition, the combined effects of salinity and K deficiency on poplars were studied. The results indicated that salt stress aggravates the negative effects caused by K deficiency. Taken together, our study provided evidence for gender-specific strategies in ion and carbohydrate allocation in poplars exposed to a short-term K deficiency. In leaves and stems, the lower K(+) accumulation inhibited sucrose translocation and resulted in a decreased R/S ratio, which may contribute to males having a stronger ability to balance growth and carbohydrate accumulation when compared with females.
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.|Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Yanni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Maolin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Chunyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D032107:Populus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium