Deciphering the broccoli plants response to salinity and boron stress on
with a focus on membranes and aquaporins
Abstract
Abiotic stresses as salinity, and boron toxicity, and deficiency are
commonly found in arid and semi-arid areas were broccoli is abundantly
grown. In this work, the physiological response of broccoli leaves
(including growth, relative water content, stomatal conductance, and
mineral concentration) was studied under salinity and boron stresses
(deficiency and toxicity), individually or in combination. Also, the
molecular study of PIP aquaporins were studied in relation to their
presence in plasma membrane PIP presence and their membrane lipid
environment. The results showed that only the combination of salinity
and boron deficiency decreased plant biomass, suggesting good adaptation
to the other treatments. Changes in stomatal conductance and mineral
nutrients suggest that the adaptation was related to water and boron
transport through leaves, involving aquaporins since avoidance strategy
was observed. Furthermore, changes in aquaporins PIP expression revealed
that each individual aquaporin is involved in each treatment, either
alone or in combination. However, the discrepancy between the presence
of aquaporins in the plasma membrane and microsomal fraction pointed
towards the regulation of trafficking and membrane composition (lipids
and proteins) should be highly present in this plant under stress.