Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Electrical and Photosynthetic Activity and the Content of Phytohormones Induced by Local Stimulation of Pea Plants

Plants (Basel). 2020 Oct 15;9(10):1364. doi: 10.3390/plants9101364.

Abstract

A local leaf burning causes variation potential (VP) propagation, a decrease in photosynthesis activity, and changes in the content of phytohormones in unstimulated leaves in pea plants. The VP-induced photosynthesis response develops in two phases: fast inactivation and long-term inactivation. Along with a decrease in photosynthetic activity, there is a transpiration suppression in unstimulated pea leaves, which corresponds to the long-term phase of photosynthesis response. Phytohormone level analysis showed an increase in the concentration of jasmonic acid (JA) preceding a transpiration suppression and a long-term phase of the photosynthesis response. Analysis of the spatial and temporal dynamics of electrical signals, phytohormone levels, photosynthesis, and transpiration activity showed the most pronounced changes in the more distant leaf from the area of local stimulation. The established features are related to the architecture of the vascular bundles in the pea stem.

Keywords: Pisum sativum; abiotic stress; electrical signal; photosynthesis; phytohormones.