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Free and conjugated desmethylsterol composition of Zea mays hybrids exposed to mild osmotic stress
Author(s) -
Simonds Jean M.,
Orcutt David M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1988.tb05851.x
Subject(s) - zea mays , hybrid , osmotic shock , chemistry , sterol , stigmasterol , osmotic pressure , botany , horticulture , biology , biochemistry , agronomy , chromatography , cholesterol , gene
Five hybrids of Zea mays (A619 × H60, B73 × MO17, B73 × PA91, B73 × VA17. A632 × H96) were grown hydroponically at osmotic potentials of ‐0.1 (control), ‐0.4 and ‐0.6 MPa. Dry weights of hybrids B73 × VA17 and A632 × H96 decreased significantly at ‐0.4 and ‐0.6 MPa. Few changes were observed in the free sterol, steryl glycoside and steryl ester fractions. However, steryl esters of the roots and stems of osmotically treated plants declined in most of the hybrids. The stigmasterol to sitosterol ratio increased in all three steryl fractions in the roots of B73×VA17 and A632×H96 as a result of the osmotic treatments. B73×VA17 and A632×H96 also exhibited the greatest initial electrolyte leakage when leaf dises were subjected to osmotic stress. A632×H96 and possibly B73×VA17 were less tolerant to osmotic treatments than the other hybrids. Modification of sterols may reflect initial events that lead to the stabilization or destabilization of cellular membrances which in turn may affect the tolerance of plants to stressful environments.