Effect of Azospirillum Lectins on Ascorbate Peroxidase Activity and Ascorbic Acid Content in Wheat Seedling Roots Exposed to Abiotic Stresses
We examined the effect of the lectins from two Azospirillum strains (the epiphyte A.brasilense Sp7 and the e-ndophyte A. brasilense Sp245) on ascorbate peroxidase activity and ascorbic acid content in roots of etiolated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings under simulated abiotic stresses – hypothermic (5°С) and hyperthermic (42°С) stress, salinity (1%NaCl), drought stress (5% sucrose), and heavy metal toxicity (CoSO4, ZnSO4, Pb(CH3COO)2, CuSO4). Both lectins increased ascorbate peroxidase activity and ascorbate content in stressed seedling roots. On the basis of the obtained data, we propose that the antioxidant action of the Azosp-irillum lectins underlies the protective effect of these proteins toward wheat seedling roots subjected to abiotic stresses.