Chloroplast-generated ROS dominate NaCl- induced K+ efflux in wheat leaf mesophyll

Mesophyll K+ retention ability has been recently reported as an important component of salinity stress tolerance in wheat. In order to investigate the role of ROS in regulating NaCl(-)induced K+ efflux in wheat leaf mesophyll, a series of pharmacological experiments was conducted using MV (methyl viologen, superoxide radical inducer), DPI (an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase), H2O2 (to mimic apoplastic ROS), and EGCG ((-)-Epigallocatechin gallate, ROS scavenger). Mesophyll pre-treatment with 10M MV resulted in a significantly higher NaCl(-)induced K+ efflux in leaf mesophyll, while 50M EGCG pre-treatment alleviated K+ leakage under salt stress. No significant change in NaCl(-)induced K+ efflux in leaf mesophyll was found in specimens pre-treated by H2O2 and DPI, compared with the control. The highest NaCl(-)induced H+ efflux in leaf mesophyll was also found in samples pre-treated with MV, suggesting a futile cycle between increased H+-ATPase activity and ROS-induced K+ leak. Overall, it is suggested that, under saline stress, K+ efflux from wheat mesophyll is mediated predominantly by non-selective cation channels (NSCC) regulated by ROS produced in chloroplasts, at least in bread wheat.