DROUGHT-INDUCED CHANGES IN ACID PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITIES IN WHEAT IN RELATIONSHIP WITH PHOSPHORUS

Abstract

The effect of drought stress on changes in acid phosphatase (APase) activities in relationship with phosphorus was studied in wheat embryos and endosperm. Drought stress was imposed by withholding water irrigation to the 12 h germinated seeds. The tissues (embryos and endosperm) were separated and APase activity was estimated. After drought stress, a significant increase in embryo and endosperm APase activity was observed. NativePAGE APase activity also revealed a similar type of induction under stress conditions. Imposition of drought stress caused no significant change in phosphorous level in endosperm; however, a significant decrease in the embryos phosphorus level was observed after 6 h of stress, indicating tissue specific key role of APase activity under drought stress in maintaining Pi level.