Nitric oxide, calmodulin and calcium protein kinase interactions in the response of Brassica napus to salinity stress

Abstract

Abstract Involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in plant metabolism and its connection with phytohormones has not been fully described, thus information about the role of this molecule in signalling pathways remains fragmented. In this study, the effects of NO on calmodulin (CAM), calcium protein kinase (CPK), content of phytohormones and secondary metabolites in canola plants under salinity stress were investigated. We applied 100 μM sodium nitroprusside as an NO source to canola plants grown under saline (100 mM NaCl) and non‐saline conditions at the vegetative stage. Plant growth was negatively affected by salinity, but exogenous NO treatment improved growth. NO caused a significant increase in activity of CAT, SOD and POX through their enhanced gene expression in stressed canola. Salinity‐responsive genes, namely CAM and CPK, were induced by NO in plants grown under salinity. NO application enhanced phenolic compounds, such as gallic acid and coumaric acid and flavonoid compound,s catechin, diadzein and kaempferol, in plants subjected to salinity. NO treatment enhanced abscisic acid and brassinosteroids but decreased auxin and gibberellin in stressed canola plants. The impacts of NO in improving stress tolerance in canola required CAM and CPK. Also, NO signalling re‐established the phytohormone balance and resulted in enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Furthermore, NO improved salinity tolerance in canola by increasing enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidant content.