Hydrogen Sulfide is Involved in the Regulation of Ascorbate-glutathione Cycle by Exogenous ABA in Wheat Seedling Leaves under Osmotic Stress

This study investigated the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the regulation of ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle by exogenous ABA in wheat leaves under osmotic stress. The results showed that osmotic stress significantly increased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), the ratio of reduced ascorbate to oxidized ascorbate (AsA/DHA) and reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), the malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage, and the H2S content, compared to control. Exogenous ABA significantly increased above indicators under osmotic stress, compared to osmotic stress alone. Above activity increases except MDHAR activity were suppressed by application of H2S scavenger hypotaurine (HT) and synthesis inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid (AOA). Meanwhile, exogenous ABA significantly decreased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage induced by osmotic stress. Application of HT and AOA reversed above effects of application of exogenous ABA. Application of NaHS can reversed above effects of HT and AOA. Our results suggested that H2S induced by exogenous ABA is a signal that leads to the up-regulation of AsA-GSH cycle.