Recovery aptitude of the halophyte Cakile maritima upon water deficit stress release is sustained by extensive modulation of the leaf proteome

authored by: Nèjia Farhat, Ikram Belghith, Jennifer Senkler, Sarra Hichri, Chedly Abdelly, Hans-Peter Braun, Ahmed Debez
Abstract: Among the most intriguing features characterizing extremophile plants is their ability to rapidly recover growth activity upon stress release. Here, we investigated the responses of the halophyte C. maritima to drought and recovery at both physiological and leaf proteome levels. Six week-old plants were either cultivated at 100% or at 25% field capacity. After 12 d of treatment, one lot of dehydrated plants was rewatered to 100% FC for 14 d (stress release). Drought stress impaired shoot hydration, photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll content compared to the control, resulting in severe plant growth restriction. This was concomitant with a marked increase in anthocyanin and proline concentrations. Upon stress release, C. maritima rapidly recovered with respect to all measured parameters. Two-dimensional gel-based proteome analysis of leaves revealed 84 protein spots with significantly changed volumes at the compared conditions: twenty-eight protein spots between normally watered plants and stressed plants but even 70 proteins between stressed and recovered plants. Proteins with higher abundance induced upon rewatering were mostly involved in photosynthesis, glycolytic pathway, TCA cycle, protein biosynthesis, and other metabolic pathways. Overall, C. maritima likely adopts a drought-avoidance strategy, involving efficient mechanisms specifically taking place upon stress release, leading to fast and strong recovery.
Organisation(s): Section Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Proteomics
Institute of Plant Genetics
External Organisation(s): Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria (CBBC)
Type: Article
Journal: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Volume: 179
Pages: 198-211
No. of pages: 14
ISSN: 0147-6513
Publication date: 15.09.2019
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Pollution, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 15 - Life on Land
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.072 (Access: Closed)