Effect of Methyl Jasmonate on Carbohydrate Composition, α - Amylase Activity and Growth of Triticale ( Triticosecale Witmmack) Seedlings

Abstract

The effect of Methyl Jasmonate (M J, jasmonic acid methyl ether) at 10 - 6 - 10 - 3 M concentrations on triticale kernels germination, seedling growth, changes in soluble carbohydrates content and composition, and activity of α - amylase was studied. MJ inhibited the germination of triticale kernel s, possibly due to decreasing activity of α - amylase, leading to the depletion of soluble carbohydrates in both embryonic and endosperm tissues. In this way, MJ reduced starch degradation. A lower amount of soluble carbohydrates in germinating seeds decreas ed water uptake (between 24 and 72 hours of germination) and delayed seedling development. The above effect can be attributed to high concentrations of MJ in the incubation mixture (10 - 3 M, 10 - 4 M). MJ reduced the number of embryonic roots in 5 - days - old seed lings in all examined concentration ranges. Keywords : Alpha - amylase, Carbohydrates, Germination, Methyl jasmonate, Triticale.