Involvement of Polyamines in Physiological Reactions of Herbicide-treated Wheat Seedlings Subjected to Drought and Waterlogging Stress

Abstract

Polyamines are plant growth regulators, which take part in plant growth and development, as well as in the physiological responses to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Drought and waterlogging are environmental stress factors that disturb normal plant growth. In our study, we determined the content of polyamines spermine, spermidine, and putrescine in young wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Sadovo-1) pretreated with herbicide Serrate^® (Syngenta) and subjected for 7 days to drought or waterlogging. We found that when applied alone the herbicide caused some decrease in polyamine levels but it was not substantial as compared to drought and waterlogging stresses. Obvious reduction of polyamine content was caused by both stress factors when applied alone or in combination with the herbicide. The decrease was more significant in drought-stressed seedlings than in waterlogged. When plants were transferred to normal irrigation regime the polyamine concentrations in drought-stressed plants tended to increase. The waterlogging stress continued to reduce polyamine content even during the recovery period. These data correlate with the growth parameters (fresh weight, height of shoots) indicating the involvement of polyamines in the physiological responses of herbicide-primed wheat seedlings under stress conditions.