Polysaccharides of Cell Wall of Wheat Roots under Extreme Growth Conditions

V. M. Pakhomova,^1,2,3 F. D. Samuilov,² and A. N. Tsentsevitsky⁴

¹Botanical Garden, Kazan State University, ul. Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, 420008 Russia; fax: (8432) 38-08-43.

²Kazan State Agricultural Academy, ul. K. Marksa 65, Kazan, 420015 Russia.

³To whom correspondence should be addressed.

⁴Kazan Institute of Biology, Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 30, Kazan, 420503 Russia.

Submitted November 25, 1996; revision submitted January 6, 1997.

Incorporation of radioactivity from ¹⁴CO₂ into various fractions and polysaccharides of the cell wall of wheat germ roots was analyzed after 40-min photosynthesis and subsequent 24-h growth. Radioactivity of cell wall polysaccharides was decreased by 50-70% during 10-day adaptation of isolated roots under extreme growth conditions. Pectines and alkali-soluble hemicelluloses of the cell wall can be used as reserved sources of endogenous nutrition of root cells during chronic starvation. Insignificant decrease in radioactivity of structural polysaccharides after 14-day incubation of isolated roots can be an indicator of cellular degradation (according to membrane potential).

KEY WORDS: Triticum vulgare muticum L., isolated root, extreme condition, cell wall, radioactivity, polysaccharides.

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