Nitric oxide mitigates the effect of water deficit in Crambe abyssinica

Crambe abyssinica is widely cultivated in the off-season in the Midwest region of Brazil with great potential for biodeisel production. Low precipitation is characteristic of this region, which can drastically affect the productivity of C. abyssinica. Signaling molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO), can potentially alleviate the effects of water stress on plants. Here we test whether nitric oxide, applied by donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), can alleviate the occurrence of water deficit damages in Crambe plants and maintain physiological and biochemical processes. Crambe plants were sprayed with three doses of SNP (0, 75, and 150 μM) and were submitted to two water levels (100% and 50% of the maximum water holding capacity). After 32 and 136 h, leaves were analyzed to evaluate the concentration of NO, water relations, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, chloroplastidic pigments, proline, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions, and the antioxidant enzymes activity. Application of SNP allowed the maintenance of gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and activities of antioxidant enzymes in plants exposed to water deficit, as well as increased the concentration of NO, proline, chloroplastidic pigments and osmotic potential. The application of SNP also decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species in plants submitted to water deficit. Thus, the application of SNP prevented the occurrence of symptoms of water deficit in Crambe plants, maintaining the physiological and biochemical responses at reference levels, even under stress conditions.