Exogenous GABA-Ca Alleviates Growth Inhibition Induced by a Low-P Environment in Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major global factor constraining peanut production. Exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Ca2+ are essential to improve stress resilience in peanuts growing under low-P conditions. This study therefore examined the detailed physiological effects of GABA-Ca on restoring peanut growth under low-P conditions. These included the root-shoot ratio, leaf nutrients, photochemical activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cyclic electron flow (CEF), ATP synthase activity, and the proton gradient (triangle pH), all of which were measured under low-P (LP, 0.5 mM) and optimized-P (1 mM) conditions. Specifically, supplying GABA-Ca under LP conditions regulated the triangle pH by causing adjustments in CEF and ATP synthase activities, buffering the photosystems' activities, restoring the antioxidant enzyme system, and lowering ROS production. Interestingly, exogenous GABA-Ca restored peanut growth under low-P conditions, possibly by the putative signaling crosstalk between GABA and Ca2+. The plausible signal amplification between GABA and Ca2+ suggested that the combination of GABA and Ca, may offer an effective strategy for enhancing peanut adaptation to low-P conditions. Moving forward, the strategic supplementation of GABA-Ca, either during cultivation or through the formulation of novel fertilizers, opens up many possibilities for better and more resilient plant production in soils with low P.

Keywords

gamma-aminobutyric acid; calcium; signal crosstalk effect; p deficiency; cyclic electron flow; ROS toxicity

Published in

Antioxidants
2024, volume: 13, number: 11, article number: 1414

SLU Authors

• Yong, Jean W.H

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Botany
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Horticulture

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111414

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139284