INFLUENCE OF SEED TREATMENT WITH SALICYLIC ACID ON THE CARBONIC ANHYDRASE ACTIVITY, PHOTOSYNTHESIS RATE, STOMATAL CONDUCTANCE AND PIGMENTS CONTENT IN WHEAT LEAVES AT ZINC EXCESS

Abstract

We studied the effect of seed treatment with salicylic acid (SA) on the carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and pigments content in wheat leaves at optimal zinc content (2 μM) or zinc excess (1500 μM). It was shown for the first time that at an optimal zinc content seed treatment with SA leads to an increase in CA activity and stomatal conductance compared to untreated plants without affecting the photosynthesis rate. At an zinc excess seed treatment with SA increased the decrease in CA activity, but the photosynthesis rate was higher than in untreated plants, apparently due to an increase in the chlorophylls and carotenoids content and stomatal conductivity. It is concluded that SA along with other non-hormonal factors and hormones, is involved in the protective and adaptive reactions of wheat plants to an zinc excess in the environment.