title: Effect of three safeners on sulfur assimilation and iron deficiency response in barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Safeners are agrochemicals used in agriculture to protect crops from herbicide injuries. They act by stimulating herbicide metabolism. As graminaceous plants, to cope with iron (Fe) deficiency, activate sulfur (S) metabolism and release huge amounts of Fe-chelating compounds, or phytosiderophores (PSs), we investigated, in barley plants (Hordeum vulgare, L.) grown in Fe deficiency, the effects of three safeners on two enzymes of S assimilation, cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH), and PS release. Finally, we monitored the root Fe content in plants treated with the most effective safener.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generally, all the safeners activated S metabolism and increased Cys and GSH contents. In addition, the safened plants excreted higher levels of PSs. Given that mefenpyr-diethyl (Mef) was the most effective in causing these effects, we assessed the Fe concentration in Mef-treated barley and found higher Fe levels than those in untreated plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three safeners, in different ways but specifically, activated S reductive metabolism and regulated Cys and GSH contents, PS release rate and Fe content (Mef-treated barley). The results of this research provide new indications of the biochemical and physiological mechanisms involved in the safening action. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luce
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bartucca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Foreste, Natura ed Energia (DAFNE), Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celletti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Foreste, Natura ed Energia (DAFNE), Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astolfi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mimmo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesco
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Panfili
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Buono
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C555731:1-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-4, 5-dihydro-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester; D000081:Acetamides; D016573:Agrochemicals; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D014230:Triazoles; C514516:fenchlorazole-ethyl; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; C006284:dichlormid
keywords: barley; iron deficiency; phytosiderophores; safeners; sulfur metabolism; thiol content