Salinity impairs photosynthetic capacity and enhances carotenoid-related gene expression and biosynthesis in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom)

PeerJ

article

Andrés Leiva-Ampuero¹  Mario Agurto¹  José Tomás Matus⁵  Gustavo Hoppe¹  Camila Huidobro¹  Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau⁶  Marjorie Reyes-Díaz⁷  Claudia Stange⁹  Paulo Canessa¹  Andrea Vega¹ 

[1] Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology;Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile;Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile;Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello;Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, I2SysBio, Universitat de València - CSIC;Núcleo de Investigación en Producción Alimentaria ,(NIPA), Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco;Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera;Center of Plant, Soil Interaction, and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus ,(BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera;Centro de Biología Molecular Vegetal ,(CBMV), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile

关键词: Abiotic stress;    Photosynthesis;    Salt stress;    Tomato fruits;    Lycopene;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.9742

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Carotenoids are essential components of the photosynthetic antenna and reaction center complexes, being also responsible for antioxidant defense, coloration, and many other functions in multiple plant tissues. In tomato, salinity negatively affects the development of vegetative organs and productivity, but according to previous studies it might also increase fruit color and taste, improving its quality, which is a current agricultural challenge. The fruit quality parameters that are increased by salinity are cultivar-specific and include carotenoid, sugar, and organic acid contents. However, the relationship between vegetative and reproductive organs and response to salinity is still poorly understood. Considering this, Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom plants were grown in the absence of salt supplementation as well as with increasing concentrations of NaCl for 14 weeks, evaluating plant performance from vegetative to reproductive stages. In response to salinity, plants showed a significant reduction in net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, PSII quantum yield, and electron transport rate, in addition to an increase in non-photochemical quenching. In line with these responses the number of tomato clusters decreased, and smaller fruits with higher soluble solids content were obtained. Mature-green fruits also displayed a salt-dependent higher induction in the expression of PSY1, PDS, ZDS, and LYCB, key genes of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, in correlation with increased lycopene, lutein, β-carotene, and violaxanthin levels. These results suggest a key relationship between photosynthetic plant response and yield, involving impaired photosynthetic capacity, increased carotenoid-related gene expression, and carotenoid biosynthesis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY