Involvement of proline and non-protein thiols in response to low temperature and cadmium stresses in wheat

• Published in: Biologia plantarum 2019-01, Vol.63 (1), p.70-77
• Main Authors: Repkina, N., Talanova, V., Ignatenko, A., Titov, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase; glutathione; glutathione synthetase; phytochelatin synthases; phytochelatins
• ISSN: 0006-3134; 1573-8264
• DOI: 10.32615/bp.2019.009

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low temperature (4 °C), cadmium sulphate (100 μM), or their combination on content of free proline (Pro), glutathione (GSH), and phytochelatins (PCs) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves. Results revealed an increase in proline and phytochelatins accumulation in leaves of wheat seedlings along with enhanced cold tolerance at the low temperature, CdSO4, and their combination. Moreover, there were increases in mRNA content of TaP5CS and TaPCS1 genes, encoding ∆1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) and phytochelatin synthases (PCS), respectively. A rapid increase in glutathione content was found within 1 h of exposure to the low temperature and its combination with CdSO4, followed by a drop. However, upregulation of the TaGS1 gene, encoding glutathione synthetase (GS), was maintained during 7 d. A significant decrease in glutathione content on the seventh day of exposure to the low temperature, CdSO4, and their combination was most probably due to its involvement in cadmium detoxification and/or in phytochelatin synthesis. Our data suggest that proline, glutathione, and phytochelatins may be important for plant tolerance to low temperature and cadmium stress in wheat.