Interaction Between Endogenous Plant Hormones and Α-Amylase in Germinating Chickpea Seeds Under Cadmium Exposure

Abstract

This study was carried out to establish the interaction between endogenous plant hormones (gibberellic acid, zeatin and zeatin riboside-type cytokinins) and alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity in germinating chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Aziziye-94) in the presence of cadmium (Cd). Plant hormones were quantitatively determined using HPLC analysis. The influence. of 3 different levels (0.1, 1.0 and 5 mM) of Cd on endogenous gibberellic acid (GA), zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR) levels and (alpha-amylase activity was determined in germinating chickpea seeds for 24, 48 and 72 h. Gibberellic acid levels and alpha-amylase activities were diminished at all Cd concentrations studied. Low Cd concentrations (0.1 and 1.0 mM) increased cytokinin (CK) levels, while the highest concentration (5 mM) decreased them depending on the increase of germination time. There was a negative correlation between GA and CK levels in germinating chickpea seeds exposed to low Cd concentrations.