Ivan V. Shakhov, Tetiana O. Yastreb, Dmytro A. Taraban, Alexander I. Oboznyi, Maksym A. Shkliarevskyi, Nataliya I. Ryabchun, Yuriy E. Kolupaev

Activation of triticale grain germination under high temperature and simulated drought by nitric oxide donor and its relationship with carbohydrate metabolism and resistance to oxidative stress

Santrauka Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus), an intergeneric hybrid of wheat and rye, is a valuable food and fodder crop. However, the germination of triticale seeds is strongly reduced under unfavourable conditions such as drought. One of the methods of increasing seed germination and activating plant growth in the early stages is seed priming with physiologically active substances, including donors of nitric oxide (NO) gasotransmitter. The effect of exogenous NO on the germination of triticale seeds has not yet been studied. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside on seed germination and growth of triticale (× Triticosecale ‘Raritet’) seedlings under the action of high temperature (35°C) or drought simulation (12% PEG 6000, polyethylene glycol solution with a molecular weight of 6000 Da). Seed treatment with 100 μM sodium nitroprusside solution increased the germination index, seed germination percentage, seedling biomass, and vigour index under stress factors. Additionally, seed priming with sodium nitroprusside increased the water content of seedling tissues under PEG-simulated drought conditions. Exposure of seeds to sodium nitroprusside enhanced the generation of endogenous NO in shoots under stress conditions. In sodium nitroprusside-treated grains, there was an increase in amylase activity, and the sugar content increased in the shoots of seedlings under the action of high temperature and drought. In addition, sodium nitroprusside treatment promoted the preservation of a pool of anthocyanins with high antioxidant activity in the shoots under drought conditions. Pretreatment of seeds with sodium nitroprusside significantly reduced the accumulation of oxidative stress markers, namely hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde, in shoots, caused by adverse influences. All the described effects of sodium nitroprusside were eliminated when seeds were treated with the nitric oxide scavenger methylene blue, indicating the specificity of sodium nitroprusside action as an NO donor. It was concluded that the most critical components of the effect of exogenous NO on seed germination and seedling growth at high temperatures and under drought conditions are the improvement of osmoregulation due to the accumulation of sugars and the prevention of oxidative damage development.

Doi https://doi.org/10.35513/Botlit.2025.4.2

Raktažodžiai carbohydrate metabolism, drought, high temperature stress, nitric oxide, resistance, seed germination, seedling growth, × Triticosecale.

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