Seeds treatment with salicylic acid increases gene expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes in wheat plants under zinc or copper deficiency

Abstract

The effect of wheat seeds treatment with salicylic acid (SA) on the expression of the TaCu/ZnSOD, TaFeSOD and TaCAT2 genes and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) in leaves at the optimal content of zinc (2 µM) and copper (0.3 µM) in root environment or there deficiencies has been studied. It was shown for the first time that seeds treatment with SA leads to an increase of the number of genes transcripts compared to untreated plants, both under optimal conditions of mineral nutrition and under zinc or copper deficiency. The activity of enzymes, especially catalase, also increases. Judging by the MDA content, this allows one to avoid increasing the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and, accordingly, the development of oxidative stress. It is concluded that the discovered positive effect of seed treatment with SA on the activity of the main enzymes of antioxidant system may underlie the stimulating effect of this phytohormone on physiological processes in plants under microelements deficiency.