Biotechnological implications from abscisic acid (ABA) roles in cold stress and leaf senescence as an important signal for improving plant sustainable survival under abiotic-stressed conditions

Abstract

Successful adaptation of a plant species is dependent upon the programming of critical growth stages so that the plant can capitalize on favorable weather periods during the growing season (Dominique and Andrew, 2010). Plants have evolved a variety of adaptive mechanisms that allow them to optimize growth and development while coping with environmental stresses. These mechanisms include seed and bud dormancy, photoperiod sensitivity, and low-temperature response and others (Fowler et al., 1999;Caius, 2010;Clint and Malcolm, 2007). Seed dormancy delays germination until after the embryo has gone through an after-ripening period. The overwinter survival of buds of many temperate zone trees and shrubs is dependent on a dormancy stage that starts in the late summer or early fall and ends after exposure to an extended period of cold or increasing day length in the spring. In addition to trees, many other dicots and grasses have a photoperiod response that can advance or delay flowering. Vernalization is a requirement for growth at low temperatures before a plant will flower. Most winter annual and biennial plants have a vernalization requirement. Low-temperature acclimation is an ability of plants to cold acclimate when exposed to gradually decreasing temperatures below a specific threshold. This is the most common mechanism that plants have evolved for adapting to low-temperature stress and examples of plants with the capacity to cold harden can be found in most species (Fowler et al., 1999;Nilson and Assmann, 2007;von Caemmerer and Baker, 2007;David and Jacqueline, 2010 AbstractIn the past few years, the signal transduction of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been studied extensively and has revealed an unanticipated complex. ABA, characterized as an intracellular messenger, has been proven to act a critical function at the heart of a signaling network operation. It has been found that ABA plays an important role in improving plant tolerance to cold, as well as triggering leaf senescence for years. In addition, there have been many reports suggesting that the signaling pathways for leaf senescence and plant defense responses may overlap. Therefore, the objective was to review what is known about the involvement of ABA signaling in plant responses to cold stress and regulation of leaf senescence. An overview about how ABA is integrated into sugars and reactive oxygen species signaling pathways, to regulate plant cold tolerance and leaf senescence, is provided. These roles can provide important implications for biotechnologically improving plant cold tolerance.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a chlorophyll degradation regulatory gene (ZjSGR) from Zoysia japonica

“…Our data provided evidence that overexpression of ZjSGR could accelerate leaf senescence. ABA is essential in triggering leaf senescence (Xue-Xuan et al, 2010). AAO3 and NCED3 are key genes regulating the ABA biosynthesis in plants (Barrero et al, 2006).…”

Advances in physiological and molecular aspects of plant cold tolerance

“…ABA stimulates several changes in plant physiological, molecular and developmental progressions resulting in plant adaptation to the stress environment (Ton et al 2009) as well as it is characterized as an intracellular messenger which has been proven to perform the critical function of the heart of signaling operation (Xue-Xuan et al 2010). Abiotic stresses induce the synthesis of ABA which in turn activates the expression of stress-related genes and stomatal closure (Lee & Luan 2012).…”

Exogenous abscisic acid increases antioxidant enzymes and related gene expression in pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves subjected to chilling stress

“…Overall, ABA-mediated SOD, POD, and DHAR activity changes seemed to be regulated at the transcriptional level. ABA-induced expression of antioxidant genes may contribute to the enhancement of cold tolerance by managing cold stress-induced ROS production (Xue-Xuan et al, 2010).…”