Influence of 24-epibrassinolide on growth of wheat plants and the content of dehydrins under cadmium stress

Effect of pretreatment of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings with 0.4 mu M 24-epibrassinolide (EB) on subsequent action on them of 1 mM cadmium acetate was investigated. This pretreatment decreased the extent of damage of cadmium action on wheat plants as judged by inhibition of stress-induced efflux of electrolytes from plant tissues and plant ability to maintain the growing parameters at a level close to the control. It was established that the revealed ability of EB to induce twofold increased accumulation of 28 kDa dehydrin under normal plant growth conditions and even to cause additional accumulation of this protein under the cadmium stress is of importance in development of the preadapting and protection effects of EB on wheat seedlings. Using fluridone (FD), a known inhibitor of the biosynthesis of ABA, the pathways responsible for the regulation of 28 kDa dehydrin level and both dependent and independent on ABA were revealed in wheat plants both pretreated and untreated with EB and under cadmium stress.