No abstract

Boron (B) is a micronutrient indispensable for citrus and B deficiency causes a considerable loss of productivity and quality in China. However, studies on pectin composition and architecture of cell wall components in trifoliate orange roots under B deficiency condition are not sufficient. In this study, we investigated the alteration in pectin characteristics and the architecture of cell wall components in trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.] roots under B starvation. The results showed that B-deficient roots resulted in a significant enlargement of root tips and an obvious decrease in cell wall B and uronic acid content in Na2CO3-soluble pectin compared with B-adequate roots. Meanwhile, they showed a decrease of 2-keto-3-deoxyoctanoic acid in CDTA-soluble and Na2CO3-soluble pectin in cell walls, while the degree of methylation (DM) of CDTA-soluble pectin was significantly increased under B deficiency. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs of B deficient plants showed a distinct thickening of the cell walls, with the thickness 1.82 times greater than that of control plant roots. The results from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that B deficiency changed the mode of hydrogen bonding between protein and carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose). The FTIR spectra exhibited a destroyed protein structure and accumulation of wax and cellulose in the cell walls under B starvation. The 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectra showed that B starvation changed the organic carbon structure of cell walls, and enhanced the contents of amino acid, cellulose, phenols, and lignin in the cell wall. The results reveal that the swelling and weakened structural integrity of cell walls, which induced by alteration on the network of pectin and cell wall components and structure in B-deficient roots, could be a major cause of occurrence of the rapid interruption of growth and significantly enlarged root tips in trifoliate orange roots under B-insufficient condition.

No abstract

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major factor limiting plant productivity. The objective of the present study was to develop the mechanisms of boron (B) alleviating aluminum toxicity in citrus. The results showed that aluminum toxicity severely hampered root elongation. Interestingly, under aluminum exposure, boron supply improved superoxide dismutase activity while reducing peroxidase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities. Likewise, the contents of HO, lipid peroxidation, protein and proline in roots were markedly decreased by boron application under aluminum exposure. Our results demonstrated that boron could alleviate aluminum toxicity by regulating antioxidant enzyme activities in the roots.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the main constraint of root growth and productivity on arable acidic soil. Although boron (B) is used to ameliorate Al stress, the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of B on Al-induced alteration on root metabolites are poorly understood, especially in the trifoliate orange, which is an important rootstock in China. Therefore, a hydroponics experiment was conducted to explore the mechanisms of B mitigates Al toxicity in roots of citrus by metabolomics. A total of 60 metabolites were identified and analyzed in the present study. The 17 amino acids and 8 sugars were up-regulated in Al-treated roots, mainly histidine, cycloleucine, asparagine, citrulline, raffinose and trehalose, and increased by 38.5-, 8.7-, 6.0-, 6.0-, 7.5- and 6.6-fold, respectively. Meanwhile, significant down-regulation of aspartic acid, isoleucine, glutamic acid and six sugars were indicated under Al stress. Aluminum induced a decrease of nine organic acids, especially l-malic acid, citric acid and threonic acid, by 98.2, 93.6 and 95.1%, respectively. Interestingly, in the presence of Al, B application decreased the contents of asparagine, cycloleucine, citrulline and histidine as well as myo-inositol, raffinose, galactinol and 3,6-anhydro-d-galactose by 52.2, 57.4, 46.7, 63.0, 65.4, 74.3, 62.5 and 55.0%, respectively. However, there was no obvious difference in the organic acid contents in Al-stressed roots treated with B. Conclusively, our results show that B regulates the metabolic patterns of amino acids and carbohydrates and reduces Al toxicity. Nevertheless, B addition did not affect the Al-induced changes in the metabolic modes of organic acids.