title: Enhancing cytokinin synthesis by overexpressing ipt alleviated drought inhibition of root growth through activating ROS-scavenging systems in Agrostis stolonifera.
abstract: Drought stress limits root growth and inhibits cytokinin (CK) production. Increases in CK production through overexpression of isopentenyltransferase (ipt) alleviate drought damages to promote root growth. The objective of this study was to investigate whether CK-regulated root growth was involved in the alteration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS scavenging capacity under drought stress. Wild-type (WT) creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L. 'Penncross') and a transgenic line (S41) overexpressing ipt ligated to a senescence-activated promoter (SAG12) were exposed to drought stress for 21 d in growth chambers. SAG12-ipt transgenic S41 developed a more extensive root system under drought stress compared to the WT. Root physiological analysis (electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation) showed that S41 roots exhibited less cellular damage compared to the WT under drought stress. Roots of SAG12-ipt transgenic S41 had significantly higher endogenous CK content than the WT roots under drought stress. ROS (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide) content was significantly lower and content of total and free ascorbate was significantly higher in S41 roots compared to the WT roots under drought stress. Enzymatic assays and transcript abundance analysis showed that superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and dehydroascorbate reductase were significantly higher in S41 roots compared to the WT roots under drought stress. S41 roots also maintained significantly higher alternative respiration rates compared to the WT under drought stress. The improved root growth of transgenic creeping bentgrass may be facilitated by CK-enhanced ROS scavenging through antioxidant accumulation and activation of antioxidant enzymes, as well as higher alternative respiration rates when soil water is limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Xunzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA huang@aesop.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Bingru
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D031703:Agrostis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D003583:Cytokinins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055864:Droughts; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003583:Cytokinins; D004573:Electrolytes; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D009599:Nitroprusside; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C024274:adenylate isopentenyltransferase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Antioxidant; ROS scavenging system; drought stress; qRT-PCR; root respiration; turfgrass.