COPPER TOXICITY TOLERANCE IN GERMINATING WHEAT SEEDS

The objective of the study was to investigate the behaviour of the antioxidant enzyme system during wheat seed germinating in laboratory conditions, in the presence of different amounts of copper. Two varieties of wheat were studied (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Dropia and cv. Alex) in order to select plants which are tolerant to copper stress. The activity of total soluble peroxidase, isoperoxidase and catalase, enzymes involved in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and photosynthetic pigments content were measured. These results suggest the involvement of an antioxidant defence system in the adaptive response to copper excess in germinating wheat seeds which is a typical reaction of the plants to a presence of oxidative stress.