Abstract
Cytokinins (CKs) are involved in several developmental stages in the life-cycle of plants. The CK content in plants and their respective organs are susceptible to changes under different environmental conditions. In the current study, we profiled the CK content in the above and underground organs of three legumes (Lessertia frutescens, Mucuna pruriens and Pisum sativum) grown in soils collected from four locations (Ashburton, Bergville, Hluhluwe and Izingolweni) in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The quantified CK contents in the three legumes were categorized on the basis of their side chains (isoprenoid, aromatic and furfural) and modifications (e.g. free bases and glucosides). Legume and soil types as well as their interaction significantly influenced the concentrations of CKs. Lessertia frutescens, Mucuna pruriens and Pisum sativum had CK content that ranged from 124–653, 170–670 and 69–595 pmol/g DW, respectively. Substantial quantity (> 600 pmol/g DW) of CK were observed in plants grown in Bergville (above-ground part of Lessertia frutescens) and Izingolweni (underground part of Mucuna pruriens) soils. A total of 28 CK derivatives observed in the legumes comprised of isoprenoid (22), aromatic (5) and furfural (1) side-chain CKs. However, the 16 CK derivatives in Mucuna pruriens were isoprenoid-type based on the side-chain. Generally, a higher ratio of cis-zeatin (cZ) relative to the trans-zeatin (tZ) was evident in the above-ground part of Lessertia frutescens and Pisum sativum for the four soil treatments. In terms of functional and physiological importance of the CKs, the free bases (active form) and ribosides (translocation form) were the most abundant CK in Lessertia frutescens and Pisum sativum. However, N-glucoside, a deactivation/detoxicification product was the most dominant CK in Mucuna pruriens from Hluhluwe and Izingolweni soils. The total CKs in the underground parts of the legumes had a positive significant correlation with the total phosphorus and nitrogen content in the plant as well as the soil nitrogen. Overall, the CK profiles of the legumes were strongly influenced by the soil types.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Nonkululeko Ngcobo, Nokhetho Makhaye, Ntuthuko S. Zungu for assisting with the greenhouse experiment and data collection. We appreciate the assistance of Mrs Alison Young and her staff at the Botanical Garden, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) during the cultivation of the plants in the greenhouse.
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This work was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF grant no. UID 113576), Pretoria, South Africa and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic, ERDF project "Plants as a tool for sustainable global development" (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000827). AOA appreciate the financial support from the North-West University UCDG: Staff Development – Advancement of Research Profiles: Mobility Grant (NW 1EU0130) for outgoing academic visits.
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Aremu, A.O., Plačková, L., Egbewale, S.O. et al. Soil nutrient status of KwaZulu–Natal savanna and grassland biomes causes variation in cytokinin functional groups and their levels in above-ground and underground parts of three legumes. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 27, 1337–1351 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01021-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01021-2