Abscisic Acid Negatively Modulates Heat Tolerance in Rolled Leaf Rice by Increasing Leaf Temperature and Regulating Energy Homeostasis

Background Abscisic acid (ABA) acts as a signaling hormone in plants against abiotic stress, but its function in energy homeostasis under heat stress is unclear. Results Two rice genotypes, Nipponbare (wild-type, WT) with flat leaves and its mutant high temperature susceptibility (hts) plant with semi-rolled leaves, were subjected to heat stress. We found significantly higher tissue temperature, respiration rate, and ABA and H2O2 contents in leaves as well as a lower transpiration rate and stomatal conductance in hts than WT plants. Additionally, increased expression of HSP71.1 and HSP24.1 as well as greater increases in carbohydrate content, ATP, NAD (H), and dry matter weight, were detected in WT than hts plants under heat stress. More importantly, exogenous ABA significantly decreased heat tolerance of hts plants, but clearly enhanced heat resistance of WT plants. The increases in carbohydrates, ATP, NAD (H), and heat shock proteins in WT plants were enhanced by ABA under heat stress, whereas these increases were reduced in hts plants. Conclusion It was concluded that ABA is a negative regulator of heat tolerance in hts plants with semi-rolled leaves by modulating energy homeostasis.