Abstract
Plants growing under natural conditions are exposed to a variety of stresses, which can lead to undesirable changes in the physiological processes and yielding. These changes can be regulated at different levels, resulting in the synthesis of specific proteins which participate in the plant’s response to stress. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the accumulation of proteins in germinating pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds under optimal and osmotic (short- and long-term) stress conditions as well as recovery following a short-term stress. For identification of the proteins, two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) were employed. Germination in optimal conditions increased the accumulation of several proteins involved in glycolysis, Krebs cycle, synthesis of fatty acids, cell growth, cellular transport and detoxification. Osmotic stress, in turn, depressed the accumulation of proteins involved in glycolysis, synthesis of fatty acids, detoxication, methionine conversions, cellular transport, translation, growth control and of cytoskeletal proteins, but raised the accumulation of enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle as well as proteins participating in signal transduction and protection (chaperones). One protein, 6a-hydroxymaackian-3-O-methyltransferase, which is involved in the synthesis of pisatin, was present only under osmotic stress conditions and recovery. Pisatin is synthesized mainly in response to microbiological infections and under stress conditions, indicating its key role in the acquisition of stress tolerance by plants.
Highlights
Seeds are an important element in the life cycle of higher plants, which ensure the survival of plant species
After 48 h, some of the seeds which germinated under optimal conditions, i.e. in distilled water, were transferred when the roots were C1 mm for another 24 h to osmotic stress conditions with polyethylene glycol (PEG), which decreased the osmotic potential to -0.5 MPa (S72)
Under osmotic stress, seed germination and growth of early pea seedlings were inhibited, an event which was accompanied by a reduced increase in fresh weight
Summary
Seeds are an important element in the life cycle of higher plants, which ensure the survival of plant species. The development and life cycle of plants are influenced by environmental stresses, both short- and long-term ones, which determine the acreage and yields of various plants, including agricultural crops (Howarth and Ougham 1993). Pea is among economically viable crops (Gepts et al 2005). At present, it is a major legume grown in Europe Pea seeds are a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, playing an important role in diets of animals and humans (Wang et al 2003; Urbano et al 2005). The demand for plant protein sources raises the importance of pea as a cultivated crop
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
