Regulation of the biosynthesis of endogenous nitric oxide and abscisic acid in stored peaches by exogenous nitric oxide and abscisic acid

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Nitric oxide (NO) and abscisic acid (ABA) are important regulators of plant response to cold stress, and they interact in response to cold signals. The primary goal of this study was to determine the roles of exogenous NO and ABA on the synthesis of endogenous NO and ABA in cold‐stored peach fruit. RESULTS Exogenous NO and ABA maintained a relatively high content of NO, increased nitrate reductase (NR) activity, and inhibited the activity of NO synthase (NOS)‐like and the levels of polyamine biosynthesis in peaches during cold storage. Treatments of potassium 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide (c‐PTIO), NO, N ‐nitro‐ l ‐Arg‐methyl ester ( L ‐NAME), and sodium tungstate did not influence ABA content. Exogenous ABA increased the content of carotenoids and the activities of aldehyde oxidase (AO), 9‐ cis ‐epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), and zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) of ABA synthesis in peaches during cold storage, and upregulated the gene expression of PpAO1 , PpNCED1 , PpNCED2 , and PpZEP . The production of endogenous NO was differentially inhibited by NO scavengers, ABA inhibitors, and NR inhibitors, but not affected by NOS‐like inhibitors during cold storage. CONCLUSION Exogenous NO and ABA can induce endogenous NO synthesis in cold‐stored peaches by the nitrate reductase pathway, and ABA can mediate endogenous ABA synthesis by the autocatalytic reaction. NO does not regulate ABA synthesis. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry