Weak microwave can alleviate water deficit induced by osmotic stress in wheat seedlings.
The aim of the investigation is to determine the effect of microwave pretreatment of wheat seeds on the resistance of seedlings to osmotic stress. Changes in biophysical, physiological and biochemical characters were measured. The results showed: (1) The magnetic field intensity and seeds temperature increased progressively with microwave pretreatments of 5, 10, 15, 20 s and 25 s compared with controls. Although each microwave pretreatment resulted in an increase in alpha-amylase activity and photon emission intensity, the increase of alpha-amylase activity and photon emission intensity was maximal at a microwave pretreatment of 10 s. (2) Osmotic stress induced by PEG treatment enhanced the concentration of malondialdehyde, while decreasing the activities of nitricoxide synthase, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and the concentration of nitric oxide, ascorbic acid, glutathione in the seedlings compared with controls. However, compared to osmotic stress alone, in the seedlings treated with microwave irradiation plus osmotic stress the concentration of malondialdehyde decreased, while the activities of nitricoxide synthase, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and the concentration of nitric oxide, ascorbic acid and glutathione increased. These results suggest that a suitable dose of microwave radiation can enhance the capability to eliminate free radicals induced by osmotic stress in wheat seedlings resulting in an increase in resistance to osmotic stress.
SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Science, 710075, Xi'an, People's Republic of China. lifekxyj@hotmail.com
Yi-Ping
YP
Chen
Jing-Fen
JF
Jia
Xiao-Ling
XL
Han
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008280:Magnetics; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008872:Microwaves; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D017785:Photons; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D036226:Seedlings / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
D014867:Water; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid