Abstract Background Wheat, a crucial food crop in China, is highly vulnerable to drought stress throughout its growth and development. WRKY transcription factors (TFs), being one of the largest families of TFs, play a vital role in responding to various abiotic stresses in plants. Results Here, we cloned and characterized the TF TaWRKY31 isolated from wheat. This TF, belonging to the WRKY II family, contains a WRKYGQK amino acid sequence and a C2H2-type zinc finger structure. TaWRKY31 exhibits tissue-specific expression and demonstrates responsiveness to abiotic stresses in wheat. TaWRKY31 protein is localized in the nucleus and can function as a TF with transcription activating activity at the N-terminus. Results showed that the wheat plants with silenced strains (BSMV:TaWRKY31-1as and BSMV:TaWRKY31-2as) exhibited poor growth status and low relative water content when subjected to drought treatment. Moreover, the levels of O2·−, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the BSMV:TaWRKY31-induced wheat plants increased, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) decreased. Compared to control plants, BSMV:TaWRKY31-induced wheat plants exhibited lower expression levels of TaSOD (Fe), TaPOD, TaCAT, TaDREB1, TaP5CS, TaNCED1, TaSnRK2, TaPP2C, and TaPYL5.Under stress or drought treatment conditions, the overexpression of TaWRKY31 in Arabidopsis resulted in decreased levels of H2O2 and MDA, as well as reduced stomatal opening and water loss. Furthermore, an increase in resistance oxidase activity, germination rate, and root length in the TaWRKY31 transgenic Arabidopsis was observed. Lastly, overexpression of TaWRKY31 in Arabidopsis resulted in higher the expression levels of AtNCED3, AtABA2, AtSnRK2.2, AtABI1, AtABF3, AtP5CS1, AtSOD (Cu/Zn), AtPOD, AtCAT, AtRD29A, AtRD29B, and AtDREB2A than in control plants. Conclusions Our findings indicate that TaWRKY31 enhances drought resistance in plants by promoting the scavenging of reactive oxygen species, reducing stomatal opening, and increasing the expression levels of stress-related genes.

Ear photosynthesis plays a key role in wheat photosynthesis during the grain filling stage, particularly under drought stress. Thus, dissecting the responsibilities of the glume and awn in photosynthetic carbon fixation and assimilates transportation during the grain filling stage in spikes is imperative. In this study, the detachment of the glume (DG) and awn (DA) of a wheat variety (Pubing143) was used to estimate their influences on ear photosynthesis and dry matter distribution. Radioactive carbon-14 (14C) isotope was detected by a multifunctional liquid scintillation counting system. The accumulation of 14C assimilates and their contributions to grain weight were then calculated. Under well-watered conditions, ear photosynthesis was reduced by 16.8 % and 46.2 % 25 d after anthesis (DAA) in the de-glumed control (DGC) and de-awned control (DAC) treatments, respectively, compared with the intact ear control (IEC). Under drought stress, ear photosynthesis was reduced by 46 % and 74.2 % at 25 DAA after removing the glume and awn, respectively. Under normal conditions, the number of 14C assimilates of DGC, and DAC was reduced by 14.6 % and 20.9 % in grains at 25 DAA, respectively, compared with the IEC. Compared with IED, the 14C assimilates of DGD, and DAD declined by 17.2 % and 27 %, respectively, in grains at 25 DAA under drought conditions. Under well-watered conditions, the grain weight per pot was reduced by 11.2 % and 25.4 % in the de-glumed control (DGC) and de-awned control (DAC) treatments, respectively, compared with the intact ear control (IEC). The grain weight per pot was further reduced after removing the glume and awn (16 % and 32.2 %, respectively) under drought stress. Furthermore, the awn contribution to grain weight was twice that of the glume. Our results suggest that the glume and awn of ears play prominent roles during grain filling in wheat, especially under drought stress, and that the awn is more crucial than the glume.

Abstract Background Wheat, a crucial food crop in China, is highly vulnerable to drought stress throughout its growth and development. WRKY transcription factors (TFs), being one of the largest families of TFs, play a vital role in responding to various abiotic stresses. Results In this study, we cloned and characterized the TF TaWRKY31 from wheat. This TF, belonging to the WRKY II family, contains a WRKYGQK amino acid sequence and a C2H2-type zinc finger structure. TaWRKY31 is expressed with tissue specificity and is responsive to abiotic stresses in wheat. TaWRKY31 protein is localized in the nucleus and can function as a TF with transcription activating activity at the N-terminus. Results showed that the wheat plants with silenced strains (BSMV: TaWRKY31-1as and BSMV: TaWRKY31-2as) exhibited poor growth status and low relative water content when subjected to drought treatment. Moreover, the levels of O2·−, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the plants increased, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) decreased. The expression levels of TaSOD(Fe), TaPOD, TaCAT, TaDREB1, TaP5CS, TaNCED1, TaSnRK2, TaPP2C, and TaPYL5 all decreased. The heterologous overexpression of TaWRKY31 in Arabidopsis decreased H2O2 and MDA content, stomatal opening, and water loss. Furthermore, an increase in resistance oxidase activity, germination rate, and root length in the TaWRKY31 transgenic Arabidopsis was observed. Lastly, the expression levels of AtNCED3, AtABA2, AtSnRK2.2, AtABI1, AtABF3, AtP5CS1, AtSOD(Cu/Zn), AtPOD, AtCAT, AtRD29A, AtRD29B, and AtDREB2A increased in the transgenic plants. Conclusions Our findings indicate that TaWRKY31 enhances drought resistance in plants by promoting the scavenging of reactive oxygen species, reducing stomatal opening, and increasing the expression levels of stress-related genes.

为探究电子加速器源射线对小麦的生物学效应,利用10 MeV电子直线加速器辐射处理小麦种子,分析不同辐射剂量对小麦的生长、生理特性和根尖细胞染色体形态的影响.结果表明,与0 Gy相比,200、400 Gy辐射处理下,小麦种子发芽率差异不显著,但随着辐射剂量的增大,发芽时间明显延长、生长速度减慢,生长10 d的小麦幼苗株高分别下降了49.67％和81.32％,根长分别下降了74.79％和89.67％,鲜重分别下降了50.93％和62.01％.同时,两种剂量处理下,两叶一心期小麦叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性分别上升了171.01％和37.69％,过氧化物酶(POD)活性分别上升了89.77％和59.74％,可溶性蛋白含量分别上升了63.20％和102.45％,丙二醛(MDA)含量分别上升了44.85％和75.36％,H2O2含量分别上升了120.64％和175.78％,而超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性分别下降了34.91％和45.45％,叶绿素a含量下降了42.55％和54.69％,叶绿素b含量下降了28.03％和54.44％.表明高剂量(400 Gy)辐射影响植物细胞中的正常代谢,进而影响生长.200、400Gy辐射处理下,小麦根尖细胞有丝分裂指数分别降低了4.37和6.00个百分点,畸变率分别升高了6.80和16.19个百分点,微核率分别升高了6.02和14.22个百分点.表明高剂量辐射导致根尖细胞无法正常完成有丝分裂,并且造成染色体畸变,生长速率被抑制,对小麦正常生长造成不良影响.试验结果可为应用电子加速器源射线辐射小麦诱变育种提供参考依据.

WRKYs are one of the largest transcription factor (TF) families and play an important role in plant resistance to various stresses. TaWRKY133, a group I WRKY protein, responds to a variety of abiotic stresses, including PEG treatment. The TaWRKY133 protein is located in the nucleus of tobacco epidermal cells, and both its N-terminal and C-terminal domains exhibit transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of TaWRKY133 reduced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, as reflected by a lower germination rate, shorter roots, higher stomatal aperture, poorer growth and lower antioxidant enzyme activities under drought treatment. Moreover, expression levels of stress-related genes (DREB2A, RD29A, RD29B, ABF1, ABA2, ABI1, SOD (Cu/Zn), POD1 and CAT1) were downregulated in transgenic Arabidopsis under drought stress. Gene silencing of TaWRKY133 enhanced the drought tolerance of wheat, as reflected in better growth, higher antioxidant enzyme activities, and higher expression levels of stress-related genes including DREB1, DREB3, ABF, ERF3, SOD (Fe), POD, CAT and P5CS. In conclusion, these results suggest that TaWRKY133 might reduce drought tolerance in plants by regulating the expression of stress-related genes.

As senescence progresses, the sensitivity of wheat organs to plant hormones during the grain-filling stages cannot be ignored. Especially under water deficit situation, non-leaf organs (spikes) have better photosynthesis and drought-tolerance traits than flag leaves. However, the mechanism of ethylene synthesis in wheat organs under water deficit remains unclear. We have studied the influence of water deficit in wheat flag leaves and spike bracts on photosynthetic parameters and on the expression of key enzymes involved in the ethylene biosynthesis pathway during the late grain-filling stages. More stable chlorophyll content (Chl), maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm), nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) and maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry under light adaptation (Fv'/Fm') were observed in the spike bracts than that in the flag leaves during the late grain-filling stages. In addition, the activity of glutathione reductase (GR), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic (ACC) acid synthase (ACS), and ACC oxidase (ACO) induced ethylene synthesis and influenced plant growth. Further analysis of genes encoding cysteine-ethylene related proteins (γ-ECS, GR, ACO, ACS1, and ASC2) demonstrated that ear organs and flag leaves exhibited different expression patterns. These findings will facilitate future investigations of the regulatory senescence response mechanisms of cysteine interaction with ethylene in wheat under conditions of drought stress.

为明确水分亏缺对小麦芒和旗叶光合特性及蔗糖、淀粉合成的影响,选用盆栽试验,在小麦灌浆期对盆栽采用正常供水(CK)及水分亏缺(WD)处理,测定旗叶和芒光合参数、相对水分含量、叶绿素含量等生理指标,分析蔗糖和淀粉合成关键酶活性及相关基因表达水平.结果表明,水分亏缺下旗叶净光合速率(Pn)、叶绿素(Chl)含量和相对水分含量(RWC)相比芒显著下降,花后24 d旗叶和芒Pn分别下降了87.7％和14.4％,Chl含量分别下降了54.1％和12.3％,RWC分别下降了13.9％和1.5％;同时,水分亏缺减少了光合碳同化物的产生,花后24 d旗叶和芒中蔗糖含量分别下降了50.1％和18.2％,淀粉含量分别下降了46.4％和18％,表明芒中碳同化物合成受水分亏缺影响较旗叶小.灌浆过程中旗叶和芒中丙二醛(MDA)含量均持续上升,水分亏缺下花后24 d旗叶和芒中MDA含量分别增加了50.8％和14.0％,表明在逆境下芒的抗氧化能力优于旗叶.总之,水分亏缺下芒具有较高的光合效率、保水性以及衰老延迟特性,并且在灌浆中后期仍有较高的蔗糖和淀粉合成能力,从而保障对小麦籽粒产量的光合贡献.

Sulfur (S) application in pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) cultivation is vital for reducing cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the plants. However, the mechanism of S application on Cd uptake and translocation in pakchoi is unclear. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was performed to investigate the effects of S application on Cd accumulation in pakchoi at one Cd concentration (50 μM, in comparison to the control condition, 0 μM) and three S levels (0, 2, 4 mM). The results showed that excessive S application (4 mM) reduced Cd accumulation and alleviated pakchoi growth inhibition caused by Cd stress in shoots and roots. With increased S application, the proportion of Cd in the vacuolar fraction and the proportion of NaCl-extractable Cd increased in roots. Additionally, S application increased the content of glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs). The reduced Cd uptake and accumulation in pakchoi shoots could have been due to increased Cd chelation and vacuolar sequestration in roots. In addition, sufficient S application (2 mM) increased the expression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) and nicotinamide synthase (NAS) in roots, and excessive S application upregulated the expression of ATP sulfurylase (ATPS) and phytochelatin synthase (PCs). This study provides evidence for the mechanism of mitigating Cd toxicity in pakchoi and will be helpful for developing strategies to reduce Cd accumulation in the edible parts of pakchoi through S fertilizer application.

为探究施用硫酸根硫(SO42--S)和单质硫(S0-S)对土壤有效硫含量及青菜硫素营养的影响,以矮脚黄青菜品种为材料,采用小区试验,分析不同类型硫肥(硫酸钾和硫磺粉)处理对供试土壤pH值、土壤有效硫含量、青菜产量及硫素营养含量的影响.结果 表明,施用硫酸钾(SO42--S)和硫磺粉(S0-S)均降低了弱碱性土壤pH值,增加了土壤有效硫含量,且施用SO42--S的影响较S0-S更明显.施用SO42--S和S0-S均可有效提高青菜株高、可食部分干重和含硫量,均在106 g·m-2处理水平下达到最大值,且施用SO42--S的提升作用优于S0-S.53 g·m-2SO42--S处理水平下,与对照相比,青菜可食部分硝酸盐含量下降了38.6％,可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和维生素C含量分别增加了115.1％、120.5％和21.7％.综上,适度施用SO42--S肥料有利于改善弱碱性缺硫土壤物理化学性质,提高青菜产量和营养品质.本研究结果为缺硫地区青菜优质优产种植提供了科学依据.

The spike photosynthesis plays a curial role in wheat photosynthesis under drought stress. However, the mechanism of drought tolerance in the spike is still unclear. Our study compared the gas exchange parameters, antioxidant system, and phenylpropanoid pathway between the wheat flag leaf and spike in response to drought stress. Compared with the flag leaf, the spike organs exhibited lower reductions in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll content (Chl) under drought stress. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate-coenzyme A ligase (4CL) enzymes, and the total contents of phenolics and flavonoids (TPC and TFC, respectively) were enhanced much more percentages in the spike organs than that in the flag leaf under drought stress. Drought also induced the expression of structural genes (TaPAL, TaC4H, Ta4CL, TaCHS, TaCHI, TaFNS, TaF3H, TaFLS, TaDFR, and TaANS) involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway of the spike organs during the middle and late grain filling periods. The spike organs also showed much smaller accumulations of O2.-, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in treated wheat. Higher activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; peroxidase, POD; and catalase, CAT) and more proline content were observed in the spike organs as compared to the flag leaf under drought stress. All these results indicated that the enhanced tolerance to drought stress in spike organs was related to the elevated phenylpropanoid pathway. It could make the spike maintain a better water status and further lead to the relatively higher photosynthesis and lower membrane damage.

WRKY transcription factors play central roles in developmental processes and stress responses of wheat. Most WRKY proteins of the same group (Group III) have a similar function in abiotic stress responses in plants. TaWRKY46, a member of Group III, was up-regulated by PEG treatment. TaWRKY46-GFP fusion proteins localize to the nucleus in wheat mesophyll protoplasts. Overexpression of TaWRKY46 enhanced osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants, which was mainly demonstrated by transgenic Arabidopsis plants forming higher germination rate and longer root length on 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing mannitol. Furthermore, the expression of several stress-related genes (P5CS1, RD29B, DREB2A, ABF3, CBF2, and CBF3) was significantly increased in TaWRKY46-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis plants after mannitol treatment. Taken together, these findings proposed that TaWRKY46 possesses vital functions in improving drought tolerance through ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways when plants are exposed to adverse osmotic conditions. TaWRKY46 can be taken as a candidate gene for transgenic breeding against osmotic stress in wheat. It can further complement and improve the information of the WRKY family members of Group III.

MYB transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest TF families, and R2R3-type MYB TFs participate in the multiply abiotic stress responses in wheat. In this study, an R2R3-type MYB gene Myb protein colourless I located on chromosome D (named TaMpc1-D4), was cloned from wheat. TaMpc1-D4-GFP protein was localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of TaMpc1-D4 reduced drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis lines, which was supported by the lower germination rate, the shorter root length, a higher level of O-2(center dot-) and malonaldehyde (MDA), the decreased proline content, and limited activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, P5CS1, RD29A, RD29B, DREB2A, ABF3, CBFI, CBF2, CBF3, ERFI, PODI, SOD (Cu/Zn), and CATI genes related to the stress and antioxidant system were remarkably down-regulated in TaMpc1-D4 transgenic Arabidopsis lines under drought stress. Silencing TaMpc1-D4 expression in wheat enhanced the relative water content (RWC), the proline content, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and activated stress-related and antioxidant-related genes (DREBI, DREB3, ERF3, ERF4b, ABF, P5CS, POD, SOD (Fe), and CAT). Taken together, these results indicated that TaMpc1-D4 negatively modulated drought tolerance by regulating the capacity of the enzyme system and the expression of stress-related and antioxidant-related genes.

Gut microbes play significant roles in colitis development. The current study was aimed to uncover the preventive effects of lycopene (LYC), a functional carotenoid component, on colitis and the accompanied behavior disorders. The current study demonstrated that LYC treatment (50 mg/kg body weight/day) for 40 days prevented the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced gut barrier damages and inflammatory responses in male mice. LYC improved DSS-induced depression and anxiety-like behavioral disorders by suppressing neuroinflammation and prevented synaptic ultrastructure damages by upregulating the expressions of neurotrophic factor and postsynaptic-density protein. Moreover, LYC reshaped the gut microbiome in colitis mice by decreasing the relative abundance of proteobacteria and increasing the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. LYC also elevated the generation of short-chain fatty acids and inhibited the permeability of lipopolysaccharide in colitis mice. In conclusion, LYC ameliorate DSS-induced colitis and behavioral disorders via mediating microbes-gut-brain axis balance.

C4 photosynthetic enzymes are present in C3 plants and participate in non-photosynthetic metabolism. Wheat spike bracts had a higher drought tolerance, photosynthesis and senesced later compared to the flag leaves under water deficit. This research was conducted to investigate the different response of primary carbon metabolism induced by C4 photosynthetic enzymes in wheat flag leaves and spike bracts including glumes and lemmas under water deficit. The activities of C4 photosynthetic enzymes and Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco), the expression of related genes and primary carbon metabolism contents were demonstrated in wheat flag leaves and spike bracts exposed to water deficit. Results showed that drought stress strongly inhibited wheat photosynthetic metabolism by decreasing Rubisco activity in flag leaves. The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), phosphate dikinase (PPDK) and NADP- malic dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) increased in wheat spike bracts under water deficit. Transcript levels of C4 photosynthetic genes in wheat spike bracts were higher under water deficit than that of control. Furthermore, the results indicated that drought stress induced changes in the contents of primary carbon metabolism including malate, oxaloacetic acid (OAA), citric, fumaric acid were organ-specific. In conclusion, the functions of C4 photosynthetic enzymes appear to be important for wheat spike bracts primary carbon metabolism and defence response under drought stress.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) with high tolerance to chromium (Cr) can be used in the phytoremediation of chromium-contaminated soil. However, the mechanisms of chromium accumulation and tolerance in kenaf are still unclear. A hydroponic experiment was taken to screen two kenaf cultivars with Cr tolerance among nine kenaf cultivars via a tolerance index. This is first time the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle and chloroplast structural changes involved in Cr tolerance of two kenaf cultivars are explored. This study indicated that enhancement of chromium concentrations reduced nine kenaf growth rates and plant biomass. In addition, in all the nine cultivars, the roots had higher Cr accumulation than the shoots. Cr-tolerant cultivar Zhe70-3 with the maximum tolerant index had the significantly higher enzymatic activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and mono- dehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) in non-enzymatic antioxidant system compared to Cr-sensitive cultivar Zhe77-1. In addition, higher GSH and AsA contents and lower damages of chloroplast ultrastructure were observed in Zhe70-3 under Cr treatment. In conclusion, Cr stress can cause less oxidative stress and destruction of chloroplast ultrastructure in Cr-tolerant cultivar Zhe70-3, and the AsA-GSH cycle may play a crucial role in kenaf Cr tolerance.

Chromium (Cr) pollution is at a worrying level in a region of oilseed rape production in China. Sulfur (S) is an indispensable element for plants that has been confirmed to play an important role in regulating plant response to heavy metal stress. The present study was conducted to examine the role of S in alleviating Cr toxicity in oilseed rape. Cr stress strongly induced oxidative stress and inhibited plant growth. Application of S significantly enhanced the tolerance of oilseed rape exposed to Cr stress by activating several detoxification mechanisms including the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) enzyme defense system and GSH production. The Cr and phytochelatins (PC) contents in the root under S treatment were markedly higher than those under Cr stress. The transcript abundances of the heavy metal transporters HMA2 and HMA4 were lower under S treatment than under Cr treatment. Most Cr was restricted to roots, and the translocation factor (TF) of Cr was markedly decreased in oilseed rape. In conclusion, our study revealed that S application is advantageous to oilseed rape defense against Cr toxicity and inhibits Cr translocation from roots to shoots.

以36个不同基因型青菜品种为材料,采用盆栽试验,根据可食部分生物量和镉(Cd)积累量差异,筛选Cd低积累和Cd高积累青菜品种,利用小区试验,研究外施硫对不同Cd积累型青菜品种可食部分Cd含量和营养品质的影响.结果表明:不同浓度Cd处理下,36个青菜品种可食部分生物量和Cd含量差异显著;紫罗兰(ZLL)和矮脚黄(AJH)2个青菜品种符合Cd低积累品种特征,适宜在Cd中低污染土壤(Cd≤1 mg·kg-1)种植;壶瓶长梗白(HPCGB)和抗热605(KR605)2个青菜品种可食部分Cd含量较高,为Cd高积累品种.小区试验结果进一步验证了盆栽筛选出的Cd低积累和Cd高积累品种特性.1 mg·kg-1 Cd处理水平下,2个Cd低积累和2个Cd高积累青菜品种可食部分可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和硝酸盐含量均高于对照;5 mg·kg-1 Cd处理水平下,上述4个青菜品种硝酸盐含量超过食品安全国家标准限量(GB 18406.1—2001);外施硫可不同程度降低青菜可食部分Cd含量和硝酸盐含量,提高了可食部分可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和维生素C含量.在Cd中低污染大田种植紫罗兰(ZLL)和矮脚黄(AJH)青菜品种及外施硫可有效降低可食部分Cd含量和改善蔬菜品质.

Ascorbate-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle is a major pathway of H2O2 scavenging and an effective mechanism of detoxification in plants. The differences in photosynthesis, chlorophyll content (Chl), relative water content (RWC), antioxidants and antioxidative enzyme activities involved in ASA-GSH metabolism were measured between the flag leaves and spike bracts (glumes and lemmas) during grain filling under drought stress. The expression of APX1, GRC1, DHAR, MDHAR, GPX1, and GS3 in ASA-GSH cycle was also measured. Compared with the flag leaves, the spike bracts exhibited stable net photosynthetic rate (PN) and chlorophyll content (Chl), a lower accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and more enhanced percentages of antioxidant enzyme activities and key enzymes gene transcription levels involved in ASA-GSH metabolism during the grain-filling stage under drought conditions. This could be the reasonable explanation for the more stable photosynthetic capacity in spikes, and the glumes and lemmas senesced later than the flag leaves at the late grain-filling stage. Also, the function of ASA-GSH cycle could not be ignored in alleviating oxidative damage by scavenging more excess ROS in spikes under drought stress.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in food chains pose a potential health risk for humans. Sulfur (S) is a significant macronutrient that plays a significant role in the regulation of plant responses to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. However, no information is currently available about the impact of S application on ascorbate-glutathione metabolism (ASA-GSH cycle) of Pakchoi plants under Cd stress. The two previously identified genotypes, namely, Aikangqing (a Cd-tolerant cultivar) and Qibaoqing (a Cd-sensitive cultivar), were utilized to investigate the role of S to mitigate Cd toxicity in Pakchoi plants under different Cd regimes. Results showed that Cd stress inhibited plant growth and induced oxidative stress. Exogenous application of S significantly increased the tolerance of Pakchoi seedlings suffering from Cd stress. This effect was demonstrated by increased growth parameters; stimulated activities of the antioxidant enzymes and upregulated genes involved in the ASA-GSH cycle and S assimilation; and by the enhanced ASA, GSH, phytochelatins, and nonprotein thiol production. This study shows that applying S nutrition can mitigate Cd toxicity in Pakchoi plants which has the potential in assisting the development of breeding strategies aimed at limiting Cd phytoaccumulation and decreasing Cd hazards in the food chain.

To investigate the drought response in wheat spike, we evaluated variations in gene expression in the early grain-filling period at 6 days after anthesis by Affymetrix Wheat Genome Array. 566 differentially expressed probe sets were identified. 477 genes were upregulated (FC ≥ 2.0) and 89 (FC ≤ 0.5) were downregulated under water deficit. Most upregulated genes were involved in signal transduction, metabolism, and transcription. We identified signaling proteins, transcription factors, and abiotic stress-related genes among the upregulated genes. Three important genes were located at the center of the phenylalanine metabolism. This result indicates that phenylalanine metabolism and biosynthesis of flavonoids derived from carbohydrate metabolism play pivotal roles during drought-resistance response in wheat spike. Nine upregulated genes were selected for confirming gene chip results at 0, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, and 25 DAA by real-time PCR. This study provided insights into the molecular mechanism underlying wheat spike responses against drought.