Impact of high or low levels of phosphorus and high sodium in soils on productivity and stress tolerance of Arundo donax plants. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cocozza, Claudia; Brilli, Federico; Miozzi, Laura; Pignattelli, Sara; Rotunno, Silvia; Brunetti, Cecilia; Giordano, Cristiana; Pollastri, Susanna; Centritto, Mauro; Accotto, Gian Paolo; Tognetti, Roberto; Loreto, Francesco
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 289(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Abiotic stress -- Giant reed -- Isoprene emission -- Phosphorus -- Salinity -- Transcriptome; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Highlights: A. donax is sensitive to P deficiency and Na excess. High P and Na levels cause synergistic effect in responses of A. donax. Combined P and Na stress regulated higher number of genes than singular stress. Abstract: The potential of Arundo donax to grow in degraded soils, characterized by excess of salinity (Na+), and phosphorus deficiency (-P) or excess (+P) also coupled with salinity (+NaP), was investigated by combining in vivo plant phenotyping, quantification of metabolites and ultrastructural imaging of leaves with a transcriptome-wide screening. Photosynthesis and growth were impaired by + Na, -P and + NaP. While + Na caused stomatal closure, enhanced biosynthesis of carotenoids, sucrose and isoprene and impaired anatomy of cell walls, +P negatively affected starch production and isoprene emission, and damaged chloroplasts. Finally, +NaP largely inhibited photosynthesis due to stomatal limitations, increased sugar content, induced/repressed a number of genes 10 time higher with respect to + P and + Na, and caused appearance of numerous and large plastoglobules and starch granules in chloroplasts. Our results show that A. donax is sensitive to unbalances of soil ion content, despite activation of defensive mechanisms that enhance plant resilience, growth and biomass production of A. donax under these conditions.