ВПЛИВ ОБРОБКИ НАСІННЯ МЕТАБОЛІЧНО АКТИВНИМИ РЕЧОВИНАМИ НА ФОРМУВАННЯ КСЕРОМОРФНОЇ СТРУКТУРИ ЛИСТКІВ ТА ВОДНИЙ ПОТЕНЦІАЛ ПАГОНІВ ПРОРОСТКІВ ПШЕНИЦІ М’ЯКОЇ (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) ЗА УМОВ ВОДНОГО ДЕФІЦИТУ

Abstract

The article offers a comparative analysis of how metabolically active substances, individually and in combinations, affect the development of xeromorphic leaf structures and the water potential of shoots in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings when subjected to water deficit conditions simulated using PEG 6000.The study involved the use of 10 options for seed treatment : control (untreated seed + distilled water); PEG 6000 solution (12 %); solution of vitamin E (10-8M) – E; ubiquinone-10 solution (10-8M) – Q; methionine solution (0,001 %) – M; solution of paraoxybenzoic acid (POBА) (0,001 %) – P; MgSO4 solution (0,001 %) – Mg; combinations: vitamin E (10-8M) + ubiquinone-10 (10-8M) – EQ; vitamin E (10-8M) + methionine (0,001 %) + POBА (0,001 %) – EMP; vitamin E (10-8M) + methionine (0,001 %) + POBА (0,001 %) + MgSO4 (0,001 %) – EMPMg. Experimental water deficit is simulated with a 12% solution of PEG 6000.
 It was observed that treating T. aestivum wheat seeds with solutions of paraoxybenzoic acid, ubiquinone-10, and magnesium sulfate under conditions of water deficit resulted in a 17.7 %, 16.5 %, and 16.2 % increase in the assimilation surface area of seedlings, respectively, compared to those subjected to water deficit conditions simulated using PEG 6000. Furthermore, the treatment of T. aestivum wheat seeds with solutions of ubiquinone-10, methionine, and the combination of vitamin E + ubiquinone-10 stimulated chlorophyll synthesis in wheat leaves, resulting in a 14.4 %, 11.3 %, and 15.4 % increase, respectively, compared to the group of plants whose seeds were germinated under conditions of slow water supply, resulting in a smaller leaf surface area, which is indicative of a xeromorphic leaf structure.
 Treating the seeds with these specific solutions enhances photosynthetic productivity in conditions of moisture deficit by reinforcing the xeromorphic structure of the leaves. This underscores the high adaptability of wheat from the Provintsialka variety to drought conditions. 
 It was determined that pre-treating seeds with a combination of vitamin E, methionine, paraoxybenzoic acid (POBA), and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) resulted in a 1.1 % increase in water accumulation in the shoots, in comparison to the measurements obtained from seedlings whose seeds were exposed to water deficit conditions simulated using PEG 6000. 
 Consequently, the application of metabolically active substances in seed treatment proves to be effective in enhancing the drought resistance of soft wheat T. aestivum. This approach can be incorporated as an integral component of the technology for cultivating grain crops under conditions of water deficit.