Abstract:

Herbivores feeding on plant inevitably results in the mechanical stimulation to plants. Plants, however, can perceive and respond to such stimulation at the cellular and organismal level. This paper studied early signaling events of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus induced by mechanical stimulation with the non-invasive micro-test technique and the confocal laser scanning microscope technique. The result showed mechanical stimuli activated different types of calcium channels, which induced influx of calcium to A. mongolicus cells. Pharmacology experiments proved plasma membrane of A. mongolicus cells have stretch-activated calcium channels. Mechanical stimulation triggered hydrogen peroxide production and proton influx, which was depended on the calcium influx. Hydrogen peroxide production was an upstream signal which induced proton influx.

Key words: Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, cell suspensions, mechanical stimulation, calcium flux, proton flux, hydrogen peroxide