Hydrogen sulfide affects the root development of strawberry during plug transplant production

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in plant cells and plays an essential role in root development. Given its potential for future agricultural applications, the optimal concentration of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an H2S donor) and the potential mechanisms for root development in the strawberry ‘Seolhyang’ were investigated in this study. The results showed that NaHS with a concentration of 1.250 mM had a positive effect on root development in strawberry. Further experiments showed that exogenous NaHS elevated the H2S content in the root. The dry root weight was increased by the 1.250 mM NaHS treatment, but was reduced by the hypotaurine (an H2S scavenger) treatment. Similar changes were found between H2S and soluble sugar contents, indicating that H2S enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugar. Therefore, it is suggested that the accumulation of soluble sugar induced by H2S is either directly or indirectly involved in root development in strawberry during plug production. Moreover, superoxide dismutase was shown to have contributed to the elevated H2O2 contents. These results contribute to our understanding of the role that H2S plays and some of the relevant mechanisms in which H2S regulates root development.