Browsing by Author "Pereira, Samanta de Oliveira"
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- Study of the Physiological, Molecular and Biochemical Mechanisms in Populus alba L. "Villafranca" clone under salinity stressPublication . Pereira, Samanta de Oliveira; Romano, Anabela; Sebastiani, LucaThe present work aimed to characterize the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of the Populus alba L. "Villafranca" clone to salt stress. To analyze the effects of salt stress, plants were treated for one month with different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl): 0 mM (control), 60 mM, 120 mM, and 180 mM NaCl. Morphologically, no significant changes were observed in plant length. However, a decrease in the fresh weight of all organs was noted as salinity levels increased. Symptoms of chlorosis were observed in groups treated with 120 mM and 180 mM NaCl. Physiologically, decreases were observed in all analyzed parameters across all groups, with the 180 mM NaCl group being the most affected. Stomatal conductance (Gs) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in the 180 mM NaCl group decreased by 81.4 % and 69.2 %, respectively. Chlorophyll and flavonol content decreased by 40.4 % and 29.4 %, respectively, in the 180 mM NaCl group. Biochemically, proline concentration and mineral element absorption in leaves and roots were quantified. The highest proline concentration was in the 120 mM NaCl treatment (43.2 ± 9.36 mg/g FW), while the 180 mM group had the lowest content (14.5 ± 7.47 mg/g FW). In basal leaves, the group treated with 60 mM NaCl showed the highest proline concentration (8.8 ± 0.68 mg/g FW). Sodium concentration increased in all organs, with the highest concentration in the 180 mM group. The potassium concentration was changed only in roots, where there was a decrease in the 120 and 180 mM groups. Unlike calcium, where there were changes only in the leaves and not in the roots. There was an increase in calcium concentration as salt stress increased, reaching its peak in the 180 mM NaCl group. At the molecular level, the expression of three genes from the glutathione pathway was analyzed: GSTF1, GPX1, and GSH1. Only GSTF1 expression changed under salt stress, increasing by 162.5 % in basal leaves and 179.6 % in roots. GPX1 did not change during stress but was more abundant in leaves. GSH1 was present in similar concentrations in both organs.