EFFECT OF 24-EPIBRASSINOLIDE AND SALINITY ON THE LEVELS OF ABA AND LECTIN

The effects of 0.4 mu M 24-epibrassinolide (EB) and 0.3 M NaCl on the levels of ABA and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in the roots of 4-day-ol d Triticum aestivum L. seedlings were compared. EB did not influence A BA content during 14 h of incubation but enhanced the accumulation of lectin, whose content almost doubled during the experiment. This indic ates the possibility of the ABA-independent control of the lectin cont ent by EB. Salt treatment resulted in rapid ABA accumulation, which oc curred prior to a fivefold increase in the lectin level. Combined trea tment with EB and NaCl resulted in partial growth recovery as compared to the action of NaCl alone; EB reduced the salinity-induced accumula tion of ABA and WGA in roots by 50%.