Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Alterations Caused by Drought Stress in the Genome of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Seedlings

Authors: Kamil COŞKUNÇELEBİ, Ramiz T. ALlYEV, Osman BEYAZOĞLU

Abstract: In this study, the alterations in the genome of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings grown under drought stress and the effect of gebberellic acid (GA_3) on these alterations were investigaeted. Dought stress was found to cause a decrease in the amGunt of Iabile and stable DNA but an increase in the amount of residual DNA in the genome of cotton seedlings. These alterations showed that the functional activities of cells had been decreased. Following drought stress in seedligns threated with GA_3. an increase was observed in the amount of DNA, particularly Iabile DNA, which is the active portion, and in the amount of RNA. AII these results show that GA_3 strengthens the repairing process and increases DNA replication and RNA synthesis in the genome of cotton seedlings harmed by drought stress.

Keywords: Drought stress, gibberellic acid, nucleic acids, Gossypium hirsutum