Alterations in the genome of wheat seedlings grown under drought stress and the effect of gibberellic acid on these alterations.

The changes in the amount of nuclear, chloroplast and mithocondrial nucleic acids of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings in relation with drought stress and the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) on these changes were investigated by spectrophotometric method. It was found that drought stress caused decrease in the amount of nucleic acids. In the seedlings to which GA3 was applied following drought stress, increase in the amount of nuclear nucleic acids (especially in the amount of labile DNA, which is the active portion) was determined. Similar results were observed in the amount of nucleic acids of mitochondria and chloroplasts. All these results show that drought stress caused quantitative changes in the genetic substrate of wheat seedling cells and GA3 application alleviated this effect by activating the synthesis of nucleic acids.