2 research outputs found
UV-B radiation modifies the acclimation processes to drought or cadmium in wheat
Under natural conditions plants are often subjected to multiple stress factors. The main aim of
the present work was to reveal how UV-B radiation affects acclimation to other abiotic
stressors. Wheat seedlings grown under normal light conditions or normal light supplemented
with UV-B radiation were exposed to drought or Cd stress and were screened for changes in
the contents of salicylic acid and its putative precursor ortho-hydroxy-cinnamic acid, and in
the activity of the key synthesis enzyme, phenylalanine ammonia lyase. Certain other
protective mechanisms, such as antioxidant enzyme activities and polyamines, were also
investigated. PEG treatment under UV-B radiation did not cause wilting, but resulted in more
pronounced salicylic acid accumulation, which may provide protection against drought stress
in wheat plants. In contrast, the high level of salicylic acid accumulation in Cd-treated plants
was not further enhanced by UV-B stress, but resulted in pronounced oxidative stress and the
activation of antioxidant systems and polyamine synthesis. Changes in the levels of phenolic
compounds are accompanied by increased phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in the roots,
but not in the leaves. The similar pattern observed for stress-induced changes in salicylic acid
and ortho-hydroxy-cinnamic acid contents suggested that salicylic acid may play a decisive
role via ortho-hydroxy-cinnamic acid. The results indicated that UV-B radiation might have
either a positive or negative impact under the same conditions in wheat, depending on the
type of secondary abiotic stress factor. The protective or damaging effects observed may be
related to changes in the levels of phenolic compounds