Ascorbic Acid Improves Tomato Salt Tolerance by Regulating Ion Homeostasis and Proline Synthesis
Xianjun Chen,
Hongwei Han,
Yundan Cong,
Xuezhen Li,
Wenbo Zhang,
Jinxia Cui,
Wei Xu,
Shengqun Pang,
Huiying Liu
Affiliations
Xianjun Chen
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Hongwei Han
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Yundan Cong
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Xuezhen Li
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Wenbo Zhang
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Jinxia Cui
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Wei Xu
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Shengqun Pang
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Huiying Liu
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Contruction Crops, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
In this study, processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) ‘Ligeer 87-5’ was hydroponically cultivated under 100 mM NaCl to simulate salt stress. To investigate the impacts on ion homeostasis, osmotic regulation, and redox status in tomato seedlings, different endogenous levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) were established through the foliar application of 0.5 mM AsA (NA treatment), 0.25 mM lycorine (LYC, an inhibitor of AsA synthesis; NL treatment), and a combination of LYC and AsA (NLA treatment). The results demonstrated that exogenous AsA significantly increased the activities and gene expressions of key enzymes (L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) and L-galactose dehydrogenase (GalDH)) involved in AsA synthesis in tomato seedling leaves under NaCl stress and NL treatment, thereby increasing cellular AsA content to maintain its redox status in a reduced state. Additionally, exogenous AsA regulated multiple ion transporters via the SOS pathway and increased the selective absorption of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the aerial parts, reconstructing ion homeostasis in cells, thereby alleviating ion imbalance caused by salt stress. Exogenous AsA also increased proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) activity and gene expression, while inhibiting the activity and transcription levels of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (OAT), thereby reducing excessive proline content in the leaves and alleviating osmotic stress. LYC exacerbated ion imbalance and osmotic stress caused by salt stress, which could be significantly reversed by AsA application. Therefore, exogenous AsA application increased endogenous AsA levels, reestablished ion homeostasis, maintained osmotic balance, effectively alleviated the inhibitory effect of salt stress on tomato seedling growth, and enhanced their salt tolerance.
