HAS GLUTATHIONE A KEY ROLE IN THE RESISTANCE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS IN DURUM-WHEAT

Two wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cultivars with different sensitivitie s to drought were either grown under regular irrigation or subjected t o water deficit by withholding water for 35 d. Water-stressed plants w ere then rehydrated. Dryland conditions induced larger decreases in wa ter potential and relative water content in the more sensitive cv. Ada mello than in the more tolerant cv. Ofanto. During dehydration, the gl utathione content decreased in both wheat cultivars, but only the more sensitive cv. Adamello required the induction of glutathione reductas e and H2O2-glutathione peroxidase activities. A protective action of g lutathione system against oxidation of sulfhydryl groups of soluble pr oteins seems to be established during the dehydration and rehydration cycle in both wheat cultivars.