Plant salinity tolerance is a physiologically complex trait, with numerous mechanisms contributing to it. In this work, we show that the ability of leaf mesophyll to retain K＋ represents an important and essentially ...Plant salinity tolerance is a physiologically complex trait, with numerous mechanisms contributing to it. In this work, we show that the ability of leaf mesophyll to retain K＋ represents an important and essentially overlooked component of a salinity tolerance mechanism. The strong positive correlation between mesophyll K＋ retention ability under saline conditions （quantified by the magnitude of NaCl-induced K＋ efflux from mesophyll） and the overall salinity tolerance （relative fresh weight and/or survival or damage under salinity stress） was found while screening 46 barley （Hordeum vulgare L.） genotypes contrasting in their salinity tolerance. Genotypes with intrinsically higher leaf K＋ content under control conditions were found to possess better K＋ retention ability under salinity and, hence, overall higher tolerance. Contrary to previous reports for barley roots, K＋ retention in mesophyll was not associated with an increased H＋-pumping in tolerant varieties but instead correlated negatively with this trait. These findings are explained by the fact that increased H＋ extrusion may be needed to charge balance the activity and provide the driving force for the high affinity HAK/KUP K＋ transporters required to restore cytosolic K＋ homeostasis in salt-sensitive genotypes.展开更多
基金supported by the Grain Research and Development Corporation grant to S.S. and M.Z.by the Australian Research Council Discovery grant to S.S
文摘Plant salinity tolerance is a physiologically complex trait, with numerous mechanisms contributing to it. In this work, we show that the ability of leaf mesophyll to retain K＋ represents an important and essentially overlooked component of a salinity tolerance mechanism. The strong positive correlation between mesophyll K＋ retention ability under saline conditions （quantified by the magnitude of NaCl-induced K＋ efflux from mesophyll） and the overall salinity tolerance （relative fresh weight and/or survival or damage under salinity stress） was found while screening 46 barley （Hordeum vulgare L.） genotypes contrasting in their salinity tolerance. Genotypes with intrinsically higher leaf K＋ content under control conditions were found to possess better K＋ retention ability under salinity and, hence, overall higher tolerance. Contrary to previous reports for barley roots, K＋ retention in mesophyll was not associated with an increased H＋-pumping in tolerant varieties but instead correlated negatively with this trait. These findings are explained by the fact that increased H＋ extrusion may be needed to charge balance the activity and provide the driving force for the high affinity HAK/KUP K＋ transporters required to restore cytosolic K＋ homeostasis in salt-sensitive genotypes.
