Abstract
Durum wheat is one of the most commonly cultivated species in the world and represents a key commodity for many areas worldwide, as its grain is used for production of many foods, such as pasta, bread, couscous, and bourghul. Durum wheat grain has a relevant role in the human diet, providing carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fibres, vitamins, and minerals, as well as highly valued bioactive compounds contributing to a healthy diet. Durum wheat is largely cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, where it is mainly grown under rain-fed conditions, thus currently undergoing drought stress, as well as soil salinity, which can hamper yield potential and influence the qualitative characteristics of grain. When plants suffer drought and/or salinity stress, a condition known as hyperosmotic stress is established at cellular level. This leads to the accumulation of ROS thus generating in turn an oxidative stress condition, which can ultimately result in the impairment of cellular integrity and functionality. To counteract oxidative damage due to excessive ROS production under stress, plants have evolved a complex array of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms, working jointly and synergically for maintenance of ROS homeostasis. Enhancement of antioxidant defence system has been demonstrated as an adaptive mechanism associated to an increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress. In the light of these considerations, this review provides a concise overview on recent advancements regarding the role of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and the main antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidases) in durum wheat response to drought and salt stresses that are expected to become more and more frequent due to the ongoing climate changes.
Highlights
In the light of the economic and nutritional relevance of durum wheat and of the pivotal role of antioxidant defence system in plant adaptation to hyperosmotic stress, this review provides concise overview of recent findings related to change in antioxidant network in durum wheat plants under drought and salt stresses
AsA content: similar decrease in all stages of ontogenesis ranging from 20% to 25% in leaves and roots of both Barakatli-95 and Drought stress imposed by withholding water supply for 7 days during 3 different phases, at 50% anthesis and 10 and 20 days after anthesis (DAA)
A relevant interest has been addressed to research on the antioxidant defence system in plants, because the tolerance some genotypes to environmental defence system in plants, because the tolerance of someofgenotypes to environmental stresses stresses been associated withactivities higher activities of antioxidant has beenhas associated with higher of antioxidant enzymesenzymes
Summary
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum Desf.) is the 10th most important and commonly cultivated species in the world, with a planting area of 17 million hectares globally and a yearly production average of 38 million tons in 2019 [1]. The EU is the primary producer in the world and Italy is the leading European country in durum wheat production, followed by France and Turkey Durum wheat is cultivated in the northern United States and Canada, and within the desert areas of the south-west United States, northern Mexico, and sub-Saharan Africa [2], but most of its production process takes place in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin. Other much smaller areas where durum wheat is cultivated include Russia and Kazakhstan, Australia, India, and Argentina. This species is a key commodity for many areas worldwide, as its grain is used for production of many foods, having a large diversification across the producing countries. In the coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin, durum wheat plants currently undergo increasing salinity due to salt accumulation in the soil as a consequence of both the seawater intrusion into fresh water aquifers and the use of salty water for irrigation [6,7,8]
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