Oxygen in the air and oxygen dissolved in the floodwater both sustain growth of aquatic adventitious roots in rice

Flooding is an environmental stress that leads to a shortage of O2 that can be detrimental for plants. When flooded, deepwater rice grow floating adventitious roots to replace the dysfunctional soil-borne root system, but the features that ensure O2 supply and hence growth of aquatic roots have not been explored. We investigate the sources of O2 in aquatic adventitious roots and relate aerenchyma and barriers for gas diffusion to local O2 gradients, as measured by microsensor technology, to link O2 distribution in distinct root zones to their anatomical features. The mature root part receives O2 exclusively from the stem. It has aerenchyma that, together with suberin and lignin depositions at the water–root and cortex–stele interfaces, provides a path for longitudinal O2 movement toward the tip. The root tip has no diffusion barriers and receives O2 from the stem and floodwater, resulting in improved aeration of the root tip over mature tissues. Local formation of aerenchyma and diffusion barriers in the mature root channel O2 towards the tip which also obtains O2 from the floodwater. These features explain aeration of floating roots and their ability to grow under water.

Speeding of V̇o2 kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise subsequent to heavy-intensity exercise is associated with improved local O2 distribution

The relationship between the adjustment of muscle deoxygenation (Δ[HHb]) and phase II VO2p during moderate-intensity exercise was examined before (Mod 1) and after (Mod 2) a bout of heavy-intensity “priming” exercise. Moderate intensity VO2p and Δ[HHb] kinetics were determined in 18 young males (26 ± 3 yr). VO2p was measured breath-by-breath. Changes in Δ[HHb] of the vastus lateralis muscle were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. VO2p and Δ[HHb] response profiles were fit using a monoexponential model, and scaled to a relative % of the response (0–100%). The Δ[HHb]/V̇o2 ratio for each individual (reflecting the local matching of O2 delivery to O2 utilization) was calculated as the average Δ[HHb]/V̇o2 response from 20 s to 120 s during the exercise on-transient. Phase II τVO2p was reduced in Mod 2 compared with Mod 1 ( P < 0.05). The effective τ′Δ[HHb] remained the same in Mod 1 and Mod 2 ( P > 0.05). During Mod 1, there was an “overshoot” in the Δ[HHb]/V̇o2 ratio (1.08; P < 0.05) that was not present during Mod 2 (1.01; P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the reduction in the Δ[HHb]/V̇o2 ratio and the smaller τVO2p from Mod 1 to Mod 2 ( r = 0.78; P < 0.05). This study showed that a smaller τVO2p during a moderate bout of exercise subsequent to a heavy-intensity priming exercise was associated with improved microvascular O2 delivery during the on-transient of exercise, as suggested by a smaller Δ[HHb]/V̇o2 ratio.