Response of wheat growth and productivity to exogenous polyamines under lead stress

Abstract

Polyamines [i.e. spermine (Spm), spermidine (Spd) and putrescine (Put)] antagonistic effects on stress imposed by 2.0 mM lead (Pb2+) on growth, yield and its components and changes in the osmoprotectant and endogenous Pb2+ concentrations, the contents of some nutrients and tissue health in wheat plants were evaluated. Under the three applied polyamine (PAs) applications, the efficiency of wheat plants to tolerate Pb2+ stress in terms of growth and yield characteristics was noticed to varying degrees. The enhancements in osmoprotectant concentrations and plant health [in terms of relative water content (RWC) and membrane stability index (MSI)], and reductions in electrolyte leakage (EL) and plant Pb2+ concentration were correlated with the reasonable growth of Pb2+-stressed plants and their grain yield. Results point out that, better growth and yield characteristics, MSI, RWC, leaf photosynthetic pigment and osmoprotectant concentrations, and nutrient contents were obtained with seed soaking in 0.25 mM Spm, 0.50 mM Spd or 1.0 mM Put than those generated with seed soaking in water under 2.0 mM Pb2+ stress. In contrast, EL and the concentration of endogenous Pb2+ were significantly reduced. However, the Pb2+-free control positively exceeded the all stressed treatments. Among all tested PAs, 1.0 mM Put showed the best results and thus is recommended, as seed soaking, for wheat to grow well under Pb2+ stress.