Lectins of oil-seed flax plants exposed to abiotic stress

The seedlings of six cultivars of oil-seed flax (Linum humile Mill.) differing in the extent of adaptation to abiotic stresses (hypo- and hyperthermia, osmotic stress, and salinity) were used to assess hemag-glutination activity and carbohydrate specificity of total lectin preparations extracted from various cell compartments. In the course of adaptation of plants resistant to hyperthermia, osmotic stress and salinity, we observed a considerable rise in the coefficient of activity of membrane lectins, whereas the adaptation to hypothermia elevated the coefficient of activity of cell wall lectins. As to total soluble lectins, the adaptation of flax plants was associated with the changes in the range of their carbohydrate specificity. For instance, following the adaptation to hyperthermia, they were found to bind glucose and glucosamine, to osmotic stress—mannose and xylose, to salinity—galactose, glucose, and glucosamine; after cold resistance was developed, total soluble lectins were found to recognize lactose and fructose. It was concluded that lectins may participate in specific adaptation of flax plants to various abiotic stress factors.