Salt acclimation induced salt tolerance in wild-type and chlorophyl b-deficient mutant wheat

Salt acclimation can promote the tolerance of wheat plants to the subsequent salt stress, which may be related to the responses of the photosynthetic apparatus. The chlorophyl (Chl) b-deficient mutant wheat ANK 32B and its wild type (WT) were firstly saltly acclimated with 30 mmol NaCl for 12 days, then subsequently subjected to 6-day salt stress (500 mmol NaCl). The ANK 32B mutant plants had lower Chl b concentration, which was manifested in the lower total Chl concentration, higher ratio of Chl a/b and in reduced photosynthetic activity (Pn). The effect of salt acclimation was manifested mainly after salt stress. Compared to non-acclimated plants, the salt acclimation increased the leaf water potential, osmotic potential (Ψo) and K concentration, while decreased the amount of Na+ and H2O2 in WT and ANK 32B under salt stress, except for Ψo in ANK 32B. In addition, the salt acclimation enhanced the APX (ascorbate peroxidase) activity by 10.55% and 33.69% in WT and ANK 32B under salt stress, respectively. Compared to the genotypes, under salt stress, the Ψo, Fv/Fm, Pn and gs of mutant plants were 5.60, 17.62, 46.73 and 26.41% lower than that of WT, respectively. These results indicated that although the salt acclimation could alleviate the negative consequences of salt stress, it is mainly manifested in the WT, and the ANK 32B plants had lower salt tolerance than WT plants, suggesting that lower Chl b concentration has a negative effect on the salt acclimation induced salt tolerance in wheat.