The influence of phytohormones on the properties of wheat phospholipid monolayers at the water-air interface

The surface behaviour of monolayers of wheat phospholipids in the presence of phytohormones introduced into the water phase was studied using Langmuir's method. The phospholipids were extracted from the plasmalemma of non-embryogenic (NE) and embryogenic (E) calli initiated from two types of explant: immature inflorescences (inf) and embryos (emb). The surface properties were investigated in model systems of monolayers of mixed phospholipids with: 1) natural amphiphile composition (PL); 2) a determined hydrophobic part (16:0) and the natural percentage composition of the hydrophilic part (PPL); and 3) a determined hydrophilic part (PC) and the natural percentage composition of the hydrophobic part (HPL). The lower limit values of the molecular area (A(lim)) were observed for NE rather than for E monolayers in all the investigated systems (PL, PPL and HPL). The collapse pressure (pi(coll)) of the monolayer decreased in the order PPL>PL>HPL, indicating the high stability of monolayers containing saturated hydrocarbon chains. The injection of non-surface-active phytohormones into the water subphase and the subsequent formation of natural and also artificial phospholipid monolayers of E and NE causes a decrease in monolayer stability against collapse and molecular close packing. As a result of their amphipathic (hydrophilic-hydrophobic) structure, the surface properties of E phospholipids are probably optimal for these systems.