Non-phosphorylating alternative respiratory pathways are involved in an increase of wheat resistance to heat stress

Fedotova O.A.1, Polyakova E.A.*1,2, Grabelnykh O.I1,2

1Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia; 2Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk, Russia

This work is aimed at studying the non-phosphorylating alternative pathways (alternative cyanide-resistant oxidase (AOX) and type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases of plant mitochondria and the physiological significance of these respiratory pathways. We determined the influence of heat treatments on the heat stress tolerance of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its relation with the non-phosphorylating alternative pathways, content of reactive oxygen species, and possible regulation of the production of reactive oxygen species by alternative respiratory pathways. The data obtained indicates that the alternative respiratory pathways play important role in the adaptation of wheat to high temperatures.