Effect of Vernalization and Red Light Illumination of Seedlings of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the Temperature Profile of cAMP Phosphodiesterase Activity

Abstract

Phenotypic manifestations of Vrn (vernalization) and Ppd (photoperiodism) genes responsible for transition of bread wheat Triticum aestivum L. to generative growth (flowering) are mutually related. Since the mechanism of phytochrome-induced photoperiodism involves the enzymes of cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism and phosphodiesterase in particular, we tested involvement of phosphodiesterase in the process of winter wheat vernalization and formation of flowering competence in alternate wheat requiring a long day but no vernalization for the transition to flowering. We studied temperature dependence of phosphodiesterase activity in vernalized and unvernalized winter wheat on the one hand and in etiolated and red light illuminated seedlings of alternate wheat on the other hand. Short-term experiments demonstrated that vernalization and red light illumination are similar to long day by the effect on the long-day plants. Both influences induced a pronounced inversion of the temperature profile of phosphodiesterase activity in the 28-45 degrees C range. We propose that phosphodiesterase is involved in vernalization processes and can serve as a sensor of low temperature in winter wheat. Changed temperature profile is a radical control mechanism of phosphodiesterase activity in response to the influences (red light and vernalizing temperatures) responsible for competence of various bread wheat forms for generative growth.