γ-Aminobutyric acid promotes aerobic respiration and antioxidant capacity of waterlogged Cerasus sachalinensis roots

Cerasus sachalinensis is widely used in cool regions of northern China as a sweet cherry rootstock, but is sensitivity to soil water-logging. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proved beneficial in regulating plants response to abiotic stress.
In this study, the effect of GABA application was tested on cherry roots in response to water-logging stress for 1 and 3 d.
The GABA level, roots respiration metabolism, ROS production and scavenging in roots were examined.
The results showed that under water-logging stress, the GABA level was increased, the aerobic respiration of roots was inhibited, the root activity was decreased, ROS was accumulated and the membrane was deteriorated.
Compared with water-logging treatment, GABA application significantly increased the roots respiration rate and promoted the aerobic respiration.
GABA application also enhanced the antioxidant capacity of roots, which was indicated by the reduced ROS and the increased of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and APX) activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules (AsA, proline). Taken together, the GABA application showed beneficial effects in protecting cherry roots against water-logging.

IX International Cherry Symposium

L.J. Li, L.T. Jia, P. Zhang, D.G. Lyu, S.J. Qin

water-logging, GABA, respiration metabolism, reactive oxygen metabolism

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1408.54