Sexual Dimorphism in the Response of Mercurialis annua to Stress.

ABSTRACT: The research presented stemmed from the observations that female plants of the annual dioecious Mercurialis annua outlive male plants. This led to the hypothesis that female plants of M. annua would be more tolerant to stress than male plants. This hypothesis was addressed in a comprehensive way, by comparing morphological, biochemical and metabolomics changes in female and male plants during their development and under salinity. There were practically no differences between the genders in vegetative development and physiological parameters. However, under salinity conditions, female plants produced significantly more new reproductive nodes. Gender-linked differences in peroxidase (POD) and glutathione transferases (GSTs) were involved in anti-oxidation, detoxification and developmental pr

SUBMITTER: Orlofsky EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4931544 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature