The content of secondary metabolites in triticale seedlings of different genotypes under cold hardening conditions

Abstract

The mechanisms of low-temperature adaptation of triticale (w Triticosecale Wittm.), an intergeneric hybrid that combining high productivity and frost resistance, are not well understood. In particular, the question remains open about the contribution of secondary metabolites to the functioning of its antioxidant system during the formation of frost resistance. The dynamics of the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and separately the amount of anthocyanins under cold hardening conditions (6 days at temperature of 2—4 °C) of seedlings of varieties with different frost resistance: Buket and Raritet (winter, high-frost-resistant), and Alexandra (winter, notfrostresistant) and Pidzymok kharkivskiy (facultative, less resistant) were studied. The content of phenolic compounds in non-hardened seedlings of various genotypes differed slightly, only in the Pidzymok kharkivskiy variety was slightly lower compared with other studied genotypes. Hardening caused a slight increase in the total content of phenolic compounds in all studied varieties. The total amount of flavonoids in non-hardened seedlings of various genotypes differed slightly. Six-day hardening led to an increase in the content of flavonoids in the seedlings of all studied varieties by 1.7—1.9 times, with no significant differences between varieties. The content of anthocyanins in the non-hardened seedlings of various varieties was different: it was the highest for the Buket variety, and the lowest for the Pidzymok kharkivskiy variety. During the process of cold hardening, it was increasing and had reached approximately the same values in the varieties Buket, Raritet and Alexandra, however, in the least frost-resistant variety Pidzymok kharkivskiy this index was significantly lower. The conclusion about the contribution of anthocyanins, but not secondary metabolites in general, to the formation of frost resistance of triticale seedlings and the antioxidant defense system at low temperatures was made.