Adaptation Versus Senescence In Rice: Early Signalling Events Play A Role In Inducing Specificity And Tolerance To Salinity

Salinity tolerance is a complex trait and, despite many efforts to obtain rice plants resistant to salt, few results have been achieved since a deeper understanding of the tolerance mechanisms is still needed. We used imaging of photosynthetic parameters, ion analysis and transcriptomic approaches to unveil differences between two rice varieties differing in salt sensitivity. Moreover, we analysed H2O2 production in roots, using a fluorescent probe, and the ensuing gene regulation. Transcriptomic analyses conducted in tolerant plants supported the set-up of an adaptive program consisting of allocating sodium preferentially to roots, restricting it to the oldest leaves and activating regulatory mechanisms of photosynthesis in new leaves. As a consequence, plants resumed growth even under prolonged salt stress. By contrast, in the susceptible variety, RNA profiling unveiled a mis-targeted response, leading to senescence and cell death. In roots of tolerant plants, an increase in H2O2 was observed as early as 5 minutes after treatment. Consequently, the expression of genes involved in perception, signal transduction and response to salt were induced at earlier times when compared to susceptible plant roots. Our results demonstrate that a prompt H2O2 signalling in roots participates to a coordinated response resulting in adaptation instead of senescence in salt treated rice plants.