Studies of the functional activity of mitochondria and cell ultrastructure of the coleoptile in wheat, Agropyron and their hybrids (incomplete amphidiploids) during decreasing temperature.

The structure of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in the coleoptile of plants (Triticum aestivum var. Lutescens 329, Agropyron glaucum, Triticum × Agropyron 56-chromosome hybrids, incomplete amphidiploids, TAH, containing 42 wheat chromosomes and 14 chromosomes of genomes D or X of Agropyron), which differ in winterhardiness, was studied after exposure to 0 ° and -4 °C for periods varying from 10 min to 4 days. The functional activity of mitochondria isolated from 3 day old seedlings was also investigated in these cereals. The cells of Triticum and Agropyron seedlings grown at 23 °C were shown to differ in mitochondrial structure. In the cells of TAH both kinds of mitochondria were found.On day 4 of exposure to -4 °C, the mitochondria of Agropyron cells were not changed; the endoplasmic reticulum formed complex closed cavities. Under similar conditions most wheat mitochondria were destroyed and in the rest no cristae were observed.Morphometric analysis indicated that the volume of such mitochondria increases by two times, while the surface area of the internal membranes and cristae decreases by 1.54 times. In such cells, the endoplasmic reticulum is represented only by membranes of the smooth type. The structure of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in the seedling cells of TAH 829, which is more like Agropyron in winterhardiness, is similar to that of Agropyron cells; in hybrid 822 (more like wheat containing the D genome), changes arise resembling those observed in wheat. The existence of different types of mitochondria in seedling cells of TAH is especially distinct at low temperatures.The mitochondria of the cereals studied differ in biochemical activity after low temperature treatment (0 ° and - 4 °C). Phosphorylative and oxidative activity of mitochondria of the winterhardy forms (Agropyron glaucum, TAH 829) decreases just after the beginning of low temperature treatment. At the same time, the morphology of the mitochondria undergoes reversible changes. The mitochondria of cold-susceptible forms of wintering plants (Triticum aestivum, TAH 822) do not conform to this pattern. Under long-term low temperature treatment they display irreversibly damaged mitochondria. It is suggested that the winterhardy forms have high adaptability connected with a rapid protective response of the cell mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. This adaptability is regulated by nuclear genes: TAH have different mitochondria in the coleoptile cells; if genome X of Agropyron is present, which TAH derives from the male parent, the related mitochondria become more resistant to low temperature treatment.