Cessation of Protein Synthesis in Water-Stressed Pea Roots and Maize Mesocotyls without loss of Polyribosomes. Effects of Lethal and Non-Lethal Water Stress

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Abstract
Pea roots and maize mesocotyl segments retain polyribosomes when subjected to mild and moderate water stress. Even under water-stress conditions that are lethal, i.e. where there is no recovery of protein synthesis upon return to full hydration, some polyribosomes are retained. Therefore cessation of protein synthesis under water stress conditions is not due to the inability of cells to retain their polyribosomes. This observation contradicts several previous reports. The polynbosome content of PEG-stressed roots is lower, at equivalent water potentials, than that of air-dried roots. We suggest that the capacity of a higher plant tissue to withstand water stress cannot easily be correlated with its capacity to retain polyribosomes.