以模式植物拟南芥为材料,研究SO2预暴露对植株干旱生理的影响,实验共设对照组、30 mg·m-3 SO2熏气组、干旱组、30 mg·m-3 SO2熏气+干旱组。检测发现:随干旱时间的延长,干旱组拟南芥植株萎蔫程度加剧,叶片相对含水量减少,SO2+干旱组萎蔫程度低于干旱组,叶片相对含水量较干旱组升高4%~10%(P〈0.05);干旱组叶片中过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高,SO2+干旱组H2O2和MDA含量分别比干旱组降低10%~19%和15%~18%(P〈0.05);干旱组脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量升高,SO2+干旱组脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量比干旱组提高15%~30%和6%~31%(P〈0.05)。基因转录检测发现:拟南芥DREB2A、DREB2B、CBF4及RD29A对干旱应答,SO2预暴露使干旱响应基因DREB2A、DREB2B及RD29A的相对表达量高于干旱组,其中RD29A上调幅度最高达16%。结果表明:SO2预暴露能缓解干旱引起的氧化损伤,促进体内渗透调节物质的积累,诱导干旱响应基因上调表达,从而增强植株的干旱适应性。
Effects of sulfur dioxide (SO2) pre-treatment on physiological responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to drought stress were investigated. Test plants were comprised of control group, 30 mg·m-3 SO2 exposure group, drought stress group and 30 mg·m-3 SO2 exposure followed by drought stress group. The results showed that leaf relative water content (LRWC) decreased and leaf wilting increased with increasing drought stress and extension of time for drought stress. SO2 pre-treatment alleviated leaf wilting and maintained higher relative water content under drought conditions. LRWC in SO2 pre-treatment group increased by 4%-10% compared to drought stress group. Moreover, drought stress induced high levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while SO2 pre-treatment decreased the contents of H2O2 and MDA by 10%-19% and 15%-18%, respectively, under drought conditions. Meanwhile, the contents of proline and soluble sugar were significantly increased by 15%-30% and 6%-31% in SO2 pre-treatment group, respectively. In addition, the results of RT-PCR analysis showed that DREB2A, DREB2B, CBF4 and RD29A genes were all up-regulated in response to drought stress. These drought-responsive genes showed higher transcript levels in SO2 pre-treatment group than in drought stress group, among which the relative expression level of RD29A increased by 16%. Our results suggested that SO2 pre-treatment could improve drought adaptation in Arabidopsis plants by up-regulating drought-responsive genes, alleviating the oxidative stress and promoting the accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances.