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Physiological Responses of Spring Wheat to 5-Aminolevulinic Acid under Water Stress Applied at Seedling Stage

  • Physiology
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Abstract

5-Aminolevulinic acid relieves the effects of environmental stresses in plants. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus in spring wheat. Other analyzed parameters involved plant height, relative turgidity, membrane status, and chlorophyll level. The plant material consisted of three genotypes of spring wheat (J × Z, R × K, K × M), subjected to mild and severe drought in the early phase of vegetative development.

5-ALA showed a positive effect on the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus under water stress. The relieving action of 5-ALA on PSII was the most evident in J × Z genotype during severe soil drought. 5-ALA positively influenced the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), the overall performance index of PSII photochemistry (PI) and the effective quantum field of PSII (φEo). In the same genotype, the investigated acid stimulated light energy absorption (ABS/CSm), and enhanced the amount of excitation energy trapped in PSII reaction centers (TRo/CSm) and the amount of energy used for electron transport (ETo/CSm).

Moreover, 5-aminolevulinic acid showed its potential to overcome the adverse effects of water deficit on Triticum aestivum L. by increasing plant growth, relative turgidity, and chlorophyll content and reducing the degree of damage to cell membranes at the early phase of vegetative development.

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Abbreviations

5-ALA:

5-aminolevulinic acid

ABS/CSm:

light energy absorption

Chl:

chlorophyll

CSm:

leaf cross-section

DIo/CSm:

energy amount dissipated from PSII

EL:

electrolyte leakage

ETo/CSm:

amount of energy used for electron transport

Fv/Fm:

quantum yield of PSII

MWC:

maximum water holding capacity

PI:

overall performance index of PSII photochemistry

RC/CSm:

number of active reaction centers

RT:

relative turgidity

TRo/CSm:

amount of excitation energy trapped in PSII reaction centers

φEo:

quantum yield of electron transport

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polish Academy of Sciences, The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Kraków, Poland

    A. Ostrowska, J. Biesaga-Kościelniak, M. T. Grzesiak & T. Hura

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  1. A. Ostrowska
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  2. J. Biesaga-Kościelniak
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  3. M. T. Grzesiak
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  4. T. Hura
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Correspondence to A. Ostrowska.

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Communicated by R.K. Behl

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Ostrowska, A., Biesaga-Kościelniak, J., Grzesiak, M.T. et al. Physiological Responses of Spring Wheat to 5-Aminolevulinic Acid under Water Stress Applied at Seedling Stage. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 47, 32–41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1556/0806.46.2018.060

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