Brief Communication Experimental Data from Three Native Representatives of Natural Communities in North-east Russia: Does the Activity of the Alternative Respiratory Pathway in Leaves Depend on the Carbohydrate Status?

The relationship between respiratory alternative pathway and carbohydrate status was studied in mature leaves of three native representatives of forest and meadow communities of north-east Russia – Ajuga reptans L., Achillea millefolium L. and Calla palustris L. All experiments were carried out on plants growing in natural habitats. The activity of the alternative respiratory pathway was studied using method of specific inhibitors. 25.0 mmol benzhydroxamic acid (BHAM) was used as inhibitor of alternative oxidase (AOX). Our results showed a clear positive relationship between the activity of the alternative respiratory pathway and carbohydrate content in the leaves of the plants studied. The possibile regulation of the activity of alternative pathway by carbohydrate concentrations in mature leaves is discussed.