Identification of Triticum durum genotypes showing increased tolerance to oxidative stress

Abstract

Oxidative stress can significantly impair the plants growth and development. It can be triggered by various biotic and abiotic factors. The study analyzed durum wheat genotypes aiming at identifying the forms characterized by increased tolerance to stress induced by methyl viologen (paraquat). The presence of paraquat in the medium caused the majority of analyzed forms to reduce the weight and length of the shoot part of seedling. In addition, inhibition of the root system development compared to control forms was observed. In some of the forms studied, oxidative stress caused chlorosis. Six different types of responses to oxidative stress were found. Most genotypes (58.8%) showed a reduction in seedling weight and length, irrespective of the paraquat concentration used. Nine genotypes resistant to stressor (CYP, MEX × 2, ETH, FRA, ITA, POL, SUN, TUN) were identified, which constituted 6.1% of the examined forms.

Keywords

• durum wheat
• oxidative stress
• methyl viologen
• paraquat