Nitric oxide effect on heat production and oxygen consumption of wheat root cells

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on heat production and oxygen consumption was studied in excised roots of 5-day-old wheat seedlings grown in CaCl2 solution (2.5 × 10−4 mol/L). Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), NaNO3, NaNO2 were used as NO donors. Incubation of the cut roots (wound stress) in the presence of NO donors led to the decrease of heat production and suppressed oxygen consumption. The increase of potassium (K+) ions exit was observed, pointing to the increase of the plasma membrane permeability and to the disruption of the adaptive processes development in roots in the NaNO2 presence.