Relationship between ATPase activity and phosphoenolyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) capacity of durum wheat (Triticum durum) roots in conditions of salt stress

Abstract The effect of NaCl on the membrane ATPase activity was studied at the root level in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. Var Karim). The salt treatment causes a stimulation of the ATPase activity and an acidification of the culture media. The high correlation between the PEPC capacity and ATPase activity shows that these two parameters are related. This statement was confirmed by the use of a specific proton pump inhibitors (ortho vanadate phosphor of Na+). The application of this proton inhibitors on plants limits the increase in the PEPC capacity which would be caused by an increase of cytoplasmic pH due to the membrane ATPase activity.