Effects of short-term osmotic stress on leaf hydraulic conductivity and ZmPIPs mRNA accumulation in maize seedlings

Plants maintain water balance by varying hydraulic properties, and plasma membrane intrinsic proteins（PIPs） may be involved in this process. Leaf xylem and root hydraulic conductivity and the m RNA contents of four highly expressed Zm PIP genes（Zm PIP1;1, Zm PIP1;2, Zm PIP2;2, and Zm PIP2;5） in maize（Zea mays） seedlings were investigated. Under well-watered conditions, leaf hydraulic conductivity（K_（leaf）） varied diurnally and was correlated with whole-plant hydraulic conductivity. Similar diurnal rhythms of leaf transpiration rate（E）, K_（leaf） and root hydraulic conductivity（K_（root）） in well-watered plants are important for maintaining whole-plant water balance. After 2 h of osmotic stress treatment induced by 10% polyethylene glycol 6000, the K_（root） of stressed plants decreased but K_（leaf） increased, compared with well-watered plants. The m RNA contents of four Zm PIPs were significantly up-regulated in the leaves of stressed plants, especially for Zm PIP1;2. Meanwhile, Zm PIP2;5 was significantly down-regulated in the roots of stressed plants. After 4 h of osmotic stress treatment, the E and leaf xylem water potentials of stressed plants unexpectedly increased. The increase in K_（leaf） and a partial recovery of K_（root） may have contributed to this process. The m RNA content of Zm PIP1;2 but not of the other three genes was up-regulated in roots at this time. In summary, the m RNA contents of these four Zm PIPs associated with K_（leaf） and K_（root） change in maize seedlings during short-term osmotic stress, especially for Zm PIP1;2 and Zm PIP2;5, which may help to further reveal the hydraulic resistance adjustment role of Zm PIPs.