Protective Enzyme System and Osmoprotection in Durum Wheat (Triticum Durum. DESF.) Leaves Under Water Deficit

Abstract

Abiotic stresses, such as high temperature, and salt stress are major factors which reduce crop productivity. The effects of water deficit on physiological traits, soluble protein content and protective enzyme system of durum wheat leaves were studied. The results indicated that the stomatal resistance (SR) increased under drought condition in all studied genotypes while the chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC) decrease in the drought condition. Soluble protein content, SDS-PAGE indicated the presence of specific bands in both control and stress condition. The peroxidase (POD) activity in durum wheat leaves was lower in control condition, and then ascending obviously under the drought condition, the highest value was obtained by the adaptive genotype Waha however the lowest activity was enregistred by the introduced genotype Colesseo. It is suggested that the soluble protein and cellular protection enzymes, such as peroxidase activity, play an important physiological functions for cellular plants protection under drought stress.

Keywords: drought, wheat, soluble protein, peroxidase, RWC, Chlorophyll, RS