The Response of Maize Seedlings of Different Ages to Hypoxic and Anoxic Stress (Changes in Induction of Adh1 mRNA, ADH Activity, and Survival of Anoxia).

Previously we showed that there is only a transient induction of alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (Adh1) transcripts and only a small induction of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzyme activity in root tips of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings subjected to strict anaerobiosis without prior acclimation by exposure to low O2 (D.L. Andrews, B.G. Cobb, J.R. Johnson, M.C. Drew [1993] Plant Physiol 101: 403-414). Acclimation of root tips of seedlings by low O2 before anoxia appeared to be necessary for full induction of ADH. Here we have examined the effect of seedling age on changes in the protein content, induction of Adh1 transcripts, and ADH enzyme activity in 5-mm root tips, root axes, and shoots of maize (cv TX5855). Their ability to survive anoxia was also recorded. Some seedlings were sparged with 4% O2 for 6 or 18 h (a hypoxic pretreatment) followed by anoxia (sparged with N2) for up to 48 h. Other seedlings were not acclimated before anoxia. In general, younger seedlings had higher initial (aerobic) levels of total protein, Adh1 transcripts, and ADH activity than did seedlings that were 2 d older. For younger seedlings, anoxia alone induced Adh1 transcripts, which reached a peak within 6 to 12 h, whereas ADH activity increased throughout the 48-h treatment. For older seedlings, anoxia caused only a small, transient induction of Adh1 transcripts or ADH activity. For seedlings of either age, hypoxia induced Adh1 transcripts and ADH activity, both of which were increased further by subsequent anoxia in the younger seedlings but to a lesser extent in the older seedlings. Despite differences in ADH activity, roots of seedlings of either age showed a similar resistance to anoxia. Thus, acclimation of maize seedlings to survive anoxia does not appear to be related to induction of high levels of ADH activity.