XVI International Botanical Congess

The objective was to verify the effect of CaCl2 on cellulase activity and on the development of a translucent tissue in maize (cv. Saracura-BR154) coleoptiles subjected to hypoxia. Seedlings with 4 days were stressed, by immersion in flooding buffer with or without CaCl2. The material for enzyme assay was collected 1,2,3,4,5,6 days after flooding. Hypoxia induced increase in cellulase activity, however the calcium minimized its effect. The appearance of a translucent tissue occurred after 4 days of hypoxia in seedlings not treated with CaCl2 when cellulase activity increased most. In calcium presence the cellulase activity stayed constant and only after 5 days of hypoxia it had significant increment coinciding with the development of a translucent tissue in coleoptiles. Sponsored by CNPq/FAPEMIG