Hydrogen Sulphide Improves Iron Homeostasis in Wheat Under Iron-Deficiency

Hydrogen sulphide (H 2S) is emerging as an important gaseous molecule involved in various plant developmental processes and plant stress responses. In this study, exogenous H 2S donor (sodium hydrosulfide, NaHS) treated wheat plants were used to investigate the role of H 2S in response to iron-deficiency. The results showed that H 2S significantly alleviated leaf chlorosis under iron-deficient conditions, and thus improved photosynthesis. Moreover, H 2S increased the lateral root (LR) number, density and length of wheat seedlings grown in iron-sufficient and deficient culture solution, and promoted phytosiderophores (PSs) secretion from roots simultaneously, which eventually led to an increase in iron uptake. Taken together, these results indicate that H 2S improved iron uptake by regulating root development and PSs secretion, and consequently increased chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosynthesis in plants under iron-deficiency.