Effects of mannitol induced osmotic stress on proline accumulation, pigment degradation, photosynthetic abilities and growth characters in C₃ rice and C₄ sorghum

Abstract

Osmotic stress is one of the most important abiotic factors which inhibit growth and development in both the vegetative and reproductive stages of many plant species. The aim of this investigation was to compare the biochemical and physiological responses in C₃ rice and C₄ sorghum to water deficit. Chlorophyll a (Chl_a), chlorophyll b (Chl_b), total chlorophyll (TC) and total carotenoid (C_x+c) contents in both rice and sorghum seedlings under osmotic stress were adversely affected, related to increasing osmotic pressure in the culture media. In addition, the chlorophyll’s fluorescence parameters and net photosynthetic rate (P_n) decreased, leading to growth reduction. Also, a positive correlation was found between physiological and biochemical data, while proline accumulation showed a negative relationship. The Chl_b, P_n and fresh weight were maintained better in osmotic-stressed (-1.205 MPa) C₄ sorghum seedlings than those in C₃ rice seedlings. The growth and physiological responses of C₃ rice and C₄ sorghum decreased depending on the plant species, the osmotic pressure in the media and their interactions. Pigment content and P_n ability in C₄ sorghum grown under mannitol-induced osmotic stress increased to a greater degree than in C₃ rice, resulting in maintenance of growth.

Key words： chlorophyll a fluorescence; net photosynthetic rate; Oryza sativa L.; pigment degradation; Sorghum bicolor (L.) Möench; water deficit stress

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) for funding source (BIOTEC; No. BT-B-02-RG-BC-4905) as well as for the Human Resource Development of Short-term Training in Biotechnology Programm-2007 and to Dr. Teeraporn Busaya-angoon at Pathumthani Rice Research Center, for providing rice seeds.

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