The effect of plant growth regulators and chlorsulfuron on electrophoretic profiles of soluble proteins, polypeptides and antioxidant enzymes in maize seedlings

Investigations were carried out with maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. The effect of chlorsulfuron (CHF) on the electrophoretic profiles of the total and thermostable proteins, polypeptides and some antioxidant enzymes was compared to the effect of abscisic acid (ABA), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and N1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N2-phenylurea (4PU-30) applied in concentrations that inhibit the growth of seedlings. It was established that the effect of CHF on seedling growth as well as on the studied biochemical parameters was most significant. The reduction of growth by CHF was accompanied by a significant decrease in the quantity of main proteins and specific qualitative changes in the electrophoretic pa�erns for coleoptiles. The appearance of a new native protein with Rm 0.22 and polypeptide with MW 67 kDa was demonstrated. Some similarity of the effect on protein band with Rm value 0.22 was observed under the influence of 4PU-30 as well. In the endosperm the effect of CHF was manifested as a delay of degradation. CHF and 4PU-30 influenced the activity of basic peroxidases in the opposite manner. The strong inhibiting effect of both cytokinins BAP and 4PU-30 on the activity of slow migrating superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes was observed. Each of the tested substances shows a differential effect on the proteins and antioxidant enzymes, despite the fact that all of them were applied at concentrations that inhibit the growth of seedlings.