The cell wall-bound phenolics as a biochemical indicator of soil drought resistance in winter triticale

Abstract

The leaf dehydration was accompanied by the highest increase in the content of cell wall-bound phenolics (CPh) during heading (148.3% C; % of control) and in course of drought applied twice during propagation and flowering (130.5% C) of triticale. A statistically significant correlations were obtained only for CPh and parameters of leaf water status and chlorophyll fluorescence. An increase in the content of free phenolics (FPh) under drought conditions was only noticed during the flowering (111.4% C) of plants. Drought application exhibited most spectacular decrease in the ratio of FPh to CPh during propagation (48.5% C) and heading (58.8% C). It was found that the cell wall increases at the expense of free phenolic compounds.