Programmed ceil death induced by heat shock in mung bean seedlings.

The effect of heat shock (HS) on death, weight and membrane leakage of mung bean seedlings as well as on early biochemical markers of PCD (cytochrome c release from mitochondria and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation) was studied. It was found that heat shock ranging from 48-55 degrees C stimulated the releasing of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol and the nuclear DNA fragmentation occurred during the first six hours of heat treatment. Sublethal heat shock (48 degrees C) gives rise to non-ladder DNA degradation. Lethal heat shock (50 and 55 degrees C) generates two types, ladder and non-ladder, DNA degradation. Internucleosomal (ladder) DNA fragmentation and cytochrome c releasing suggest the programmed cell death occurs in mung bean seedling induced by heat shock.