Changes in the Root System of Wheat Seedlings Following Root Anaerobiosis I. Anatomy and Respiration in Triticum aestivum L.

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Abstract
Anatomical changes in roots of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Hatri) following oxygen deficiency in the rooting medium were investigated. The response of the plant to stress was tested at a very early developmental stage when the first adventitious roots had just emerged. In order to analyze the adaptation of different roots, respiration rates of the roots 1–3 and 4–n were compared with the respiration rates of the total root system. Oxygen deficiency was induced either by flushing nutrient solution with nitrogen or flooding of sand. In contrast to plants grown in well aerated media, both stress variants led to a significant increase of the intercellular space of the root cortex in seminal and first adventitious roots. Radial cell enlargement of cortical cells near the root tip, cell wall thickenings in flooded sand cultures and an increase in phloroglucinol-stainable substances were found to be further indicators of low oxygen supply. The roots 4–n which were promoted in growth under hypoxia showed higher respiration rates; hence the total root respiration was not restricted.