Dynamics of amino acid accumulation of two differentially drought resistant Zea mays cultivars in response to osmotic stress

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 221 - 226
• Main Authors: Thakur, Partap S., Rai, Vinay K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1982
• Subjects: corn
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/0098-8472(82)90042-9

In the present study an analysis of amino acid contents in two maize cultivars with different sensitivities to drought revealed significant and consistent differences in total amino acid pools when osmotic stress was imposed. On day 3 of stress an increase in the general amino acid pool was observed in the shoots of both cultivars at all stress levels; however, accumulation at −0.808 MPa in the resistant Agati-76 was about 115% and in the susceptible Vijay 70% over non-stressed shoots. The accumulation of amino acids induced by water deficit was also recorded in the shoots of both cultivars subjected to lower stress levels (i.e. −0.202 and −0.404 MPa) for 7 days, albeit the magnitude of accumulation in Agati-76 was about 42% more than in Vijay, especially at −0.404 MPa on day 7. A substantial accumulation of asparagine, serine, glycine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid was registered in both cultivars on the third day of stress from −0.101 to −1.1 MPa. Significant accumulations of proline were recorded in both cultivars at −1.1 MPa on days 3 and 7 of stress. A positive correlation existed between amino acid accumulation and stressup to −0.808 MPa. The physiological role of amino acids in relation to drought resistance is discussed.