title: Exogenously applied poly-γ-glutamic acid alleviates salt stress in wheat seedlings by modulating ion balance and the antioxidant system.
abstract: Salt stress is a main abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity in many parts of the world. To investigate whether poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) can alleviate the negative effects of salt stress on wheat, a foliar application of 400 mg/L γ-PGA was applied to wheat seedlings, which were then subjected to 150 mM NaCl. Our results showed that after application of γ-PGA, the plant height, the plant weight, and the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were significantly increased compared with the treatment of 150 mM NaCl alone. Meanwhile, γ-PGA application also resulted in high accumulation of K+and decreased storage of Na+in wheat leaves. These results suggest that γ-PGA treatment may improve salt tolerance of wheat by diminishing ionic imbalances and enhancing antioxidant capacity. Our results indicate that exogenous γ-PGA could alleviate the damage caused by salt stress.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Zhengfei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Changhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. ganlj@njua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012987:Soil; C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012964:Sodium; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Antioxidant; Ion balance; Salt stress; Wheat; γ-PGA