Shengdong Li

The structural and photosynthetic characteristics of the exposed peduncle of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.): an important photosynthate source for grain-filling

BackgroundIn wheat (Triticum aestivum L), the flag leaf has been thought of as the main source of assimilates for grain growth, whereas the peduncle has commonly been thought of as a transporting organ. The photosynthetic characteristics of the exposed peduncle have therefore been neglected. In this study, we investigated the anatomical traits of the exposed peduncle during wheat grain ontogenesis, and we compared the exposed peduncle to the flag leaf with respect to chloroplast ultrastructure, photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase; EC 4.1.1.31) activity.ResultsTransmission electron microscope observations showed well-developed chloroplasts with numerous granum stacks at grain-filling stages 1, 2 and 3 in both the flag leaf and the exposed peduncle. In the exposed peduncle, the membranes constituting the thylakoids were very distinct and plentiful, but in the flag leaf, there was a sharp breakdown at stage 4 and complete disintegration of the thylakoid membranes at stage 5. PSII quantum yield assays revealed that the photosynthetic efficiency remained constant at stages 1, 2 and 3 and then declined in both organs. However, the decline occurred more dramatically in the flag leaf than in the exposed peduncle. An enzyme assay showed that at stages 1 and 2 the PEPCase activity was lower in the exposed peduncle than in the flag leaf; but at stages 3, 4 and 5 the value was higher in the exposed peduncle, with a particularly significant difference observed at stage 5. Subjecting the exposed part of the peduncle to darkness following anthesis reduced the rate of grain growth.ConclusionOur results suggest that the exposed peduncle is a photosynthetically active organ that produces photosynthates and thereby makes a crucial contribution to grain growth, particularly during the late stages of grain-filling.

Increasing in ROS levels and callose deposition in peduncle vascular bundles of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under nitrogen deficiency

Nitrogen availability is closely related to crop senescence and productivity, but its associated effect on reserve remobilization is not yet fully understood. In this study, we observed that nitrogen deficiency (N−) led to significant decreases in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.05), guaiacol peroxidase (P<0.05), and catalase (P<0.05) as well as a higher concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P<0.05) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) peduncles during the middle grain-filling compared with the application of 225 kg N ha−1 (N+). Callose concentration showed the same trend of temporal changes as ROS. Histochemical staining revealed that both ROS and callose predominantly occurred in vascular bundles of peduncles. Ultimately, grain filling rates and grain weight in N− wheat were reduced compared with N+ plant. These data suggest that the grain yield decline in N− wheat may be at least partially attributed to the higher callose deposition in peduncle vascular bundles and ROS level is closely associated with the increase in the callose deposition in wheat peduncle vascular bundles.

Effects of high NH(+) 4 on K(+) uptake, culm mechanical strength and grain filling in wheat.

It is well established that a high external NH+4 concentration depresses many processes in plant development, but the underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. To determine whether the negative effects of high levels of NH+4 are related to competitive cation uptake, wheat was grown in a field with moderate (18 g N m−2) and high (30 g N m−2) supplies of NH+4 in the presence or absence of additional K+ (6 g K2O m−2) to examine culm mechanical strength, the main components of the vascular bundle, nitrogen (N) remobilization and the grain-filling rate. The results indicated that an excessive supply of NH+4 significantly decreased culm mechanical strength, the cellulose and lignin contents of vascular bundles, the N remobilization efficiency (NRE) and the grain-filling rate compared with a moderate level of NH+4. The additional provision of K+ considerably alleviated these negative effects of high NH+4, resulting in a 19.41–26.95% increase in culm mechanical strength during grain filling and a 34.59% increase in the NRE. An assay using the scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET) showed that the net rate of transmembrane K+ influx decreased by 84.62%, and measurements using flame photometry demonstrated that the K+ content decreased by 36.13% in wheat plants subjected to high NH+4. This study indicates that the effects of high NH+4 on culm mechanical strength, cellulose and lignin contents, the NRE and the grain-filling rate are probably associated with inhibition of K+ uptake in wheat.