Anatomical changes induced by triazoles in wheat seedlings

Abstract

The triazoles triadimefon and S-3307, applied as seed treatments at two concentrations each (0.1 and 1.0, and 0.001 and 0.01 g active ingredient/kg of seed, respectively), increased epicuticular wax and reduced the length but increased the width and thickness of wheat leaves (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Glenlea). Mesophyll cells of treated leaves were thicker than those of controls and there were more layers of cells around the median and lateral vascular bundles of leaves treated with the higher concentration of S-3307. The length of epidermal cells was reduced and the width was increased by both triazoles; the depth of epidermal cells was increased by the higher concentration of triadimefon only. S-3307 increased the number of vascular bundles, whereas triadimefon at the higher concentration increased their diameter. Both concentrations of S-3307 reduced the length of trichomes. The two triazoles increased chloroplast size along both the long and short axes. Compared with those of controls, the stomata in the triadimefon-treated leaves were constricted and sunken, whereas in S-3307 treated leaves the subsidiary cells were wider. The effects of the triazoles observed in this study may account in part for several plant growth regulatory activities reported earlier, including growth retardation, stimulation of chlorophyll synthesis, and protection against injury from water stress.