Figure 9.

Redox strategy underpinning salt tolerance in rice. A differential modulation of the redox balance is pivotal for the protection against salt stress in the tolerant rice variety. In Baldo, a rapid and effective modulation of the antioxidative systems allows a delay of the oxidative damage to the cellular components and consequent impairment of cell-cycle progression and cell viability due to a shift toward an ROS signaling mode instead of a damaging one. In this context, glutathione metabolism was identified as a possible pathway, which contributes to conferring salt tolerance on rice. A variety-specific modulation of the expression of the enzyme γ ECS and regulation, at a post-transcriptional level, of sulfur assimilation, mediated by osa-miR395, can contribute to the delayed decrease in plant growth and viability observed in tolerant Baldo rice variety.