Salinity Induced Apoptosis in Root Meristematic Cells ofRice

Salt stress is one of the most serious problems in agriculture and can induce apoptosis in plants. Cell death is induced by two modes: apoptosis and necrosis. We used a TUNEL assay and DNA gel electrophoresis on NaCl-treated cells of rice root to morphologically distinguish the mode of cell death in salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice cultivars. The results indicated that 500 mmol/L NaCl treatments could lead to specific features of apoptosis in root tips in both cultivars, such as DNA ladder, nuclear condense and deformation, and transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling positive reaction, which were initiated at 4h of treatment and progressed thereafter.