Responses of enzymes involved in proline biosynthesis and degradation in wheat seedlings under stress

In green house, the effects of rice residue and water deficit were evaluated on accumulation of proline in leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Different doses of rice residues were applied to wheat with or without water deficit. The activities of enzymes involved in proline metabolism (glutamate dehydrogenase, pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase, pyrroline5- carboxylate reductase and ornithine-delta-aminotransferase) were significantly enhanced in the leaves under allelopathic stress with and without water deficit, while the activities of proline dehydrogenase decreased with increase in stress. This study showed that crop residues and drought stress enhanced the proline levels in wheat seedlings with glutamate pathway playing the dominant role.