Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) displays a positive physiological function in plant growth. Limited data are available on the influence of H2S on cell wall growth in plants. Here, we outline a novel mechanism to show how H2S regulates cell wall cellulose biosynthesis and deposition in Alfalfa. NaHS treatment increased the length of epidermal cells in the hypocotyl of Alfalfa. Transcriptome analysis revealed that NaHS treatment caused the differential expression of a mass of cell wall-related genes. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) directly associated with cellulose and hemicellulose biosynthesis, and pectin degradation. Cell wall composition analysis found that NaHS treatment increased the contents of cellulose and hemicellulose, but decreased pectin content. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to observe cellulose microfibrils. The diameter of cellulose fibril was decreased, the arrangement of fibrillar bundles was altered, and NaHS increased the interspace of fibrillar bundles. Cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) dynamics closely related to cellulose synthesis. We found that NaHS increased the mobile rates of CSC particles. These data suggest that the H2S signal enhanced the plasticity of the cell wall by regulating cellulose fibrils deposition and decreasing the pectin content. The increase of cellulose and hemicellulose content resulted in cell wall expansion and cell elongation.