Changes in growth and gene expression induced by sulphur deficiency in garlic

Abstract

Sulfur deficiency in garlic Allium sativum L. caused a reduction in growth together with chlorosis and necrosis of leaves. Large differences in shoot sulfur and sulphate concentrations between deficient and high sulfur treatments were only observed after 54 days growth. Using the mRNA differential display technique, a novel cDNA was isolated from shoots grown in sulfur depleted nutrient solution for 24 days. This novel cDNA was constitutively expressed in the shoots during further growth in sulfur depleted solution, but it was undetectable following 30 days recovery with sulfur supplementation. The cDNA sequence demonstrated a high degree of identity with a coat protein gene of a garlic latent carlavirus. The results suggest a possible relationship between low plant sulfur status and the induction of a latent carlavirus in garlic.