Effect of cytokinin 4-PU-30 on the lipid composition of water stressed bean plants

Fourteen days-old bean plants, grown on sand with Knop's nutrient solution were subjected to water stress (three days without irrigation), The stress led to a decrease in almost all lipid classes except phospholipids in the primary leaves. The content of palmitic acid increased, and that of the linolenic acid decreased, An increase of hexadecenoic acid in phospholipids was also observed. Rewatering for 24 h led to the recovery of the stressed plants including that of the photosynthetic apparatus, but the changes in the lipid composition were insignificant. The spraying of the plants before and after the water stress with 5 x 10(-6) M solution of the phenylurea cytokinin 4-PU-30 alleviated negative effect of water stress on the lipid membrane composition permitting the plants to resist the harmful environment.