Root–shoot communication in tomato plants: cytokinin as a signal molecule modulating leaf photosynthetic activity. (31st August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Glanz-Idan, Noga; Tarkowski, Petr; Turečková, Veronika; Wolf, Shmuel
• Editors: Lunn, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental botany. Volume 71:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 247
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2019-08-31
• Subjects: Cytokinin -- leaf development -- photosynthesis -- Solanum lycopersicum -- source–sink relationship -- tomato -- xylem; Botany -- Periodicals; Botany, Experimental -- Periodicals; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz399
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0957

Abstract

Abstract : Partial defoliation up-regulated photosynthesis and down-regulated expression of sucrose export-related genes in tomato leaves, and increased trans -zeatin riboside in the roots, implicating this cytokinin in root–shoot signaling. Abstract: Photosynthetic activity is affected by exogenous and endogenous inputs, including source–sink balance. Reducing the source to sink ratio by partial defoliation or heavy shading resulted in significant elevation of the photosynthetic rate in the remaining leaf of tomato plants within 3 d. The remaining leaf turned deep green, and its area increased by almost 3-fold within 7 d. Analyses of photosynthetic activity established up-regulation due to increased carbon fixation activity in the remaining leaf, rather than due to altered water balance. Moreover, senescence of the remaining leaf was significantly inhibited. As expected, carbohydrate concentration was lower in the remaining leaf than in the control leaves; however, expression of genes involved in sucrose export was significantly lower. These results suggest that the accumulated fixed carbohydrates were primarily devoted to increasing the size of the remaining leaf. Detailed analyses of the cytokinin content indicated that partial defoliation alters cytokinin biosynthesis in the roots, resulting in a higher concentration of trans -zeatin riboside, the major xylem-translocated molecule, and a higher concentration of total cytokinin in the remaining leaf. Together, our findings suggest that trans -zeatin riboside acts as a signal molecule that traffics from the root to the remaining leaf to alter gene expression and elevate photosynthetic activity.