[Level nitric oxide (NO) and growth of roots of etiolated pea seedlings]

Data regarding the interrelation of nitric oxide (NO) content in roots of 3-day-old etiolated pea seedlings and their growth under different concentrations of N-containing compounds were obtained. The concentration of exogenous compounds (sodium nitroprusside SNP, KNO3, NaNO2, L-arginine) rendering an inhibiting effect on the growth of roots were established, and the NO content in roots was determined at these concentration. It was shown that the inhibition of growth and highest NO content in the roots was determined with SNP (4 mM) and NaNO2 (2 mM) during 24 h exposition of seedlings. This dependence was not established in combinations with KNO3 (20 mM) and L-arginine (4 mM). We established that a NO scavenger, hemoglobin (4 μM), fully or partially removed the toxic effect of SNP, nitrate, and nitrite on growth. The effect of NO on the growth and the participation of N-containing compounds in generation of NO in roots of pea seedlings is discussed.