WATERLOGGING AND NITRIC OXIDE INDUCE GENE EXPRESSION AND INCREASE ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITY IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

The effects of waterlogging (WL) and WL plus nitric oxide (WL+NO) were investigated in seedlings of one wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum cv. Dogankent) and one wheat line (Triticum aestivum cv. Ducula-4). Under WL conditions, catalase activity was greater in Ducula-4 than in Dogankent. Glutathione reductase activity increased in Ducula-4 seedlings under WL+NO conditions, especially at 48 and 72 hours of treatment. Myb2 expression increased during the early hours of treatment in both wheat varieties exposed to WL, with 40-fold higher levels in Ducula-4, gradually decreasing to control levels. Under WL+NO treatment, Myb2 expression increased 44-fold at 12 hours and high levels of expression were still observed at 72 hours. When Ducula-4 seedlings were subjected to WL+NO treatment, PDPK expression increased approximately 15-fold at 3 hours and decreased to control levels at 72 hours. Under the same conditions, SST1 expression increased 3-fold at 3 and 12 hours and reached control levels during the subsequent hours. Among the genes studied, the highest level of expression was observed for Myb2. Moreover, gene expression was altered most by waterlogging in Ducula-4 seedlings.