外源α-萘乙酸对花期长期干旱大豆叶片抗氧化系统的影响

以不同耐旱型品种‘南农99-6’和‘科丰1号’大豆为材料,2012年在南京农业大学牌楼试验站进行为期110 d的盆栽试验,研究大豆花期叶面喷施α-萘乙酸(NAA)对长期干旱条件下大豆植株抗氧化系统的影响.结果表明:干旱胁迫显著降低了大豆地上部干物质量,叶片中丙二醛(MDA)含量及活性氧(ROS)水平显著升高,同时,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)活性,还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及AsA/DHA(双脱氢抗坏血酸)和GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽)比值显著升高,其中‘科丰1号’大豆的抗氧化能力更高,从而维持较低的ROS水平和MDA含量.NAA可显著提高叶片中的APX、POD、CAT、MDHAR活性及AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比值,其中‘科丰1号’大豆叶片的脱氢抗坏血栓还原酶(DHAR)活性和AsA含量极显著增加.     

5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)对盐胁迫下葡萄叶片中AsA-GSH循环的影响

以两个耐盐程度不同的葡萄品种‘夏黑’(耐盐性较弱)和‘里扎马特’(耐盐性较强)为材料,分析了不同浓度ALA对不同浓度盐胁迫下葡萄叶片中AsA-GSH循环的影响。研究表明:喷施75 mg·L-1 ALA可显著提高2 g·kg-1盐胁迫下‘夏黑’葡萄叶片中抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)的活性以及还原型抗坏血酸(As A)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量和AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比值,显著降低氢抗坏血酸(DHA)与氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量;而喷施150 mg·L-1 ALA可显著提高4 g·kg-1盐胁迫下‘里扎马特’葡萄叶片中APX、GR、MDHAR、DHAR的活性以及AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比值,显著降低DHA与GSSG含量。     

外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环中抗氧化物质和抗氧化酶系的影响.结果表明:外施适量NO(硝普钠)可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA(氧化型抗坏血酸)、GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽),降低DHA和GSSG含量.添加100 μmol·L-1 BSO(谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂)处理下,外源NO可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA含量、AsA/DHA及抗坏血酸酶(AAO)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)比活性,降低DHA、GSH、GSSG含量及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)比活性;添加250 μmol·L-1 BSO处理下,外源NO提高了铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA、GSH、GSSG含量、AsA/DHA及APX和GR比活性,降低了DHA含量及AAO、DHAR和MDHAR比活性.说明外源NO影响了铜胁迫下番茄根系的AsA-GSH代谢循环,并通过调节AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG的变化来减轻氧化胁迫,从而缓解铜胁迫对番茄根系的伤害.     

外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系抗坏血酸谷胱甘肽循环的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环中抗氧化物质和抗氧化酶系的影响.结果表明：外施适量NO(硝普钠)可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA(氧化型抗坏血酸)、GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽),降低DHA和GSSG含量.添加100 μmol·L^-1 BSO(谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂)处理下,外源NO可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA含量、AsA/DHA及抗坏血酸酶(AAO)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)比活性,降低DHA、GSH、GSSG含量及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)比活性;添加250 μmol·L^-1 BSO处理下,外源NO提高了铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA、GSH、GSSG含量、AsA/DHA及APX和GR比活性,降低了DHA含量及AAO、DHAR和MDHAR比活性.说明外源NO影响了铜胁迫下番茄根系的AsA-GSH代谢循环,并通过调节AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG的变化来减轻氧化胁迫,从而缓解铜胁迫对番茄根系的伤害.     

褪黑素对高温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗抗坏血酸代谢系统的影响

以‘津春4号’黄瓜幼苗为试材,采用叶面喷施的方法,研究了外源褪黑素对高温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片抗坏血酸代谢系统的影响.结果表明:高温胁迫后,黄瓜幼苗叶片过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量明显增加;还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量持续下降,脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量逐渐升高,AsA/DHA和GSH/GSSG大幅下降;抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APx)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性明显升高,并在12 h达到最大.外施褪黑素能有效抑制高温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片H2O2和MDA的积累,提高抗氧化物质AsA和GSH含量及抗坏血酸代谢相关酶APx、MDHAR、DHAR和GR活性,从而增强对H2O2的清除能力,抑制活性氧的产生,维持细胞膜的稳定性,减轻高温对植株造成的伤害,提高黄瓜幼苗抵御高温胁迫的能力.     

甜樱桃‘佐藤锦’果实生长发育过程AsA含量及其相关酶活性的变化

以黄肉甜樱桃品种‘佐藤锦’为材料,测定了其果实生长发育过程中抗坏血酸(AsA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量变化,及其相关代谢酶L-半乳糖脱氢酶(GalDH)、L-半乳糖-1-4-内酯酶(GalLDH)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和过氧化物酶(APX)的活性变化,分析它们在果实生长发育过程中对AsA积累所起的作用。结果表明:(1)‘佐藤锦’果实生长发育过程中总抗坏血酸(T-AsA)、还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)、脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)、氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量均在花后0d最高,随后持续下降,而总谷胱甘肽(T-GSH)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量先升后降。(2)随着果实生长发育,AsA和DHA的单果积累量均持续增加,且在果实第二次快速生长期增幅最大;各相关代谢酶活性在甜樱桃果实生长发育过程中呈现出不同的变化趋势,其中GalLDH、MDHAR和DHAR的活性变化同AsA含量变化趋势基本一致。(3)相关性分析发现,GalLDH、MDHAR和DHAR的活性与AsA含量呈极显著正相关关系,说明它们是影响甜樱桃果实AsA含量的关键酶。     

硫化氢对盐碱胁迫下裸燕麦叶片抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的调控效应

盐碱胁迫是植物遭受的常见非生物胁迫之一,气体信号硫化氢(H₂S)在植物响应盐碱胁迫中发挥着重要作用。为探讨H₂S对盐碱胁迫下裸燕麦抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环的调控效应,以品种‘定莜9号’为材料,研究了喷施H₂S供体硫氢化钠(NaHS)或H₂S合成抑制剂羟胺(HA)对盐碱混合胁迫下植株生长、叶片活性氧、膜脂过氧化和AsA-GSH循环中抗氧化物质和关键酶的影响。结果表明: 喷施50 μmol·L^-1 NaHS可缓解50 mmol·L^-1盐碱混合胁迫对裸燕麦生长的抑制,降低超氧阴离子、H₂O₂、丙二醛、氧化型抗坏血酸(DHA)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量,提高AsA/DHA和GSH/GSSG,而对还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)含量无显著影响。喷施NaHS还提高了盐碱混合胁迫下裸燕麦叶片AsA合成关键酶L-半乳糖脱氢酶(GalDH)和L-半乳糖-1,4-内酯脱氢酶(GalLDH)及AsA-GSH循环中单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)活性,降低了抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性,而对抗坏血酸氧化酶(AO)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性的影响不大。增添HA后部分或完全解除了喷施NaHS的上述作用。这说明H₂S可通过促进AsA合成和增强MDHAR活性提高AsA-GSH循环效率,降低盐碱胁迫对裸燕麦的氧化伤害。     

外源一氧化氮供体对NaCl胁迫下多裂骆驼蓬幼苗叶片ASA-GSH循环的影响

研究了外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)对NaCl胁迫下多裂骆驼蓬幼苗抗坏血酸(ASA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环抗氧化系统及H2O2和丙二醛(MDA)含量的影响。结果表明,0.15mmol.L-1SNP能提高300mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫下多裂骆驼蓬幼苗叶片抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和谷胱甘肽转硫酶(GST)活性,增加还原型抗坏血酸(ASA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量,降低脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量,提高ASA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比率,降低H2O2和MDA水平,对单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性无显著影响。NO信号转导途径关键酶鸟苷酸环化酶(GC)抑制剂亚甲基蓝(MB)逆转了SNP对盐胁迫下APX、GR、GST活性和ASA、GSH、DHA,H2O2、MDA含量及ASA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比率的调节效应。由此表明,NO可能通过GC介导的cGMP信号转导参与ASA-GSH循环活性氧清除系统的调节,从而缓解盐胁迫诱导的氧化伤害。     

外源表油菜素内酯对NaHCO3胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长及氧化还原平衡的影响

以‘津研四号’黄瓜为试材,以30 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃模拟盐碱环境,采用水培法研究了0.2 μmol·L^-1外源2,4表油菜素内酯(2,4-epibrassinolide,EBR)对盐碱胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长和活性氧代谢的影响.结果表明: NaHCO₃胁迫显著诱导了叶片及根系中O₂^-·的产生和H₂O₂的积累,导致丙二醛含量和电解质渗透率提高.NaHCO₃胁迫下,超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶活性及还原型抗坏血酸、还原型谷胱甘肽含量随胁迫时间延长呈现先升后降的趋势.外源EBR显著提高了NaHCO₃胁迫下黄瓜叶片和根系中抗氧化酶活性、抗氧化物质的含量以及AsA/DHA(双脱氢抗坏血酸)和GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽)比值,维持了植株内的氧化还原平衡,降低了活性氧积累水平,缓解了膜脂过氧化,从而提高了黄瓜幼苗的盐碱耐受性.     

外源NO对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜（Cucumis sativus L.）幼苗生长和谷胱甘肽抗氧化酶系统的影响

采用营养液水培,研究了外源一氧化氮(NO)对黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)幼苗生长和叶片谷胱甘肽抗氧化酶系统的影响.结果表明,正常生长条件下添加NO能促进黄瓜幼苗生长,而添加NO信号传递途径关键酶鸟苷酸环化酶(cGC)抑制剂亚甲基蓝(MB-1)显著抑制了黄瓜幼苗的生长;添加NO显著缓解了盐胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长的抑制,提高了叶片谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)及还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)、抗坏血酸(ASA)含量,降低了氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量,提高了GSH/GSSG,对单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)活性无显著影响;NaCl胁迫下添加NO的同时添加MB-1抑制了GR活性的提高,GSH和ASA含量、GSH/GSSG均降低,GSSG含量提高,但对MDAR、APX和DHAR活性无显著影响,表明NaCl胁迫下NO对GR活性、GSH和ASA含量、GSH/GSSG的调节可能是通过cGC介导的,对MDAR无明显的调节作用,对DHAR、APX的调节还存在其它途径.     

Selenium Pretreatment Upregulates the Antioxidant Defense and Methylglyoxal Detoxification System and Confers Enhanced Tolerance to Drought Stress in Rapeseed Seedlings

In order to observe the possible regulatory role of selenium (Se) in relation to the changes in ascorbate (AsA) glutathione (GSH) levels and to the activities of antioxidant and glyoxalase pathway enzymes, rapeseed (Brassica napus) seedlings were grown in Petri dishes. A set of 10-day-old seedlings was pretreated with 25 μM Se (Sodium selenate) for 48 h. Two levels of drought stress (10% and 20% PEG) were imposed separately as well as on Se-pretreated seedlings, which were grown for another 48 h. Drought stress, at any level, caused a significant increase in GSH and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) content; however, the AsA content increased only under mild stress. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was not affected by drought stress. The monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity increased only under mild stress (10% PEG). The activity of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glyoxalase I (Gly I) activity significantly increased under any level of drought stress, while catalase (CAT) and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activity decreased. A sharp increase in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation (MDA content) was induced by drought stress. On the other hand, Se-pretreated seedlings exposed to drought stress showed a rise in AsA and GSH content, maintained a high GSH/GSSG ratio, and evidenced increased activities of APX, DHAR, MDHAR, GR, GST, GPX, CAT, Gly I, and Gly II as compared with the drought-stressed plants without Se. These seedlings showed a concomitant decrease in GSSG content, H₂O₂, and the level of lipid peroxidation. The results indicate that the exogenous application of Se increased the tolerance of the plants to drought-induced oxidative damage by enhancing their antioxidant defense and methylglyoxal detoxification systems.     

Aluminum-induced changes in reactive oxygen species accumulation, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity in wheat root tips

The present study investigated the effects of aluminum on lipid peroxidation, accumulation of reactive oxygen species and antioxidative defense systems in root tips of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Exposure to 30 μM Al increased contents of malondialdehyde, H₂O₂, suproxide radical and Evans blue uptake in both genotypes, with increases being greater in Al-sensitive genotype Yangmai-5 than in Al-tolerant genotype Jian-864. In addition, Al treatment increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as well as the contents of ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) in both genotypes. The increased activities SOD and POD were greater in Yangmai-5 than in Jian-864, whereas the opposite was true for the activities of CAT, APX, MDHAR, GR and GPX and the contents of AsA and GSH. Consequently, the antioxidant capacity in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) was greater in Jian-864 than in Yangmai-5.     

Effects of exogenous spermidine on antioxidant system of tomato seedlings exposed to high temperature stress

The effects of foliar spraying with spermidine (Spd) on antioxidant system in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings were investigated under high temperature stress. The high temperature stress significantly inhibited plant growth and reduced chlorophyll (Chl) content. Application of exogenous 1 mM Spd alleviated the inhibition of growth induced by the high temperature stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content and superoxide anion (O₂) generation rate were significantly increased by the high temperature stress, but Spd significantly reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA content under the stress. The high temperature stress significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) content and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), but increased contents of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in tomato leaves. However, Spd significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, levels of antioxidants and endogenous polyamines in tomato leaves under the high temperature stress. In addition, to varying degrees, Spd regulated expression of MnSOD, POD, APX2, APX6, GR, MDHAR, DHAR1, and DHAR2 genes in tomato leaves exposed to the high temperature stress. These results suggest that Spd could change endogenous polyamine levels and alleviate the damage by oxidative stress enhancing the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant system and the related gene expression.     

Effects of lanthanum on the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism of Vigna radiata seedlings under salt stress

In order to elucidate the role of lanthanum (La) in response of Vigna radiata to a salt stress, we investigated the effects of La on the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism. The results show that in comparison with a control, the salt stress increased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS), and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), and the content of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH). It also increased the malondialdehyde content (MDA) and electrolyte leakage. The salt stress significantly decreased the ratios of AsA/dehydroascorbate (DHA) and GSH/glutathione disulphide (GSSG) compared with the control. The pretreatment with La not only significantly increased the activities of the above enzymes, the content of AsA, GSH, and the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG, but also significantly reduced the MDA content and electrolyte leakage compared with the salt stress alone. Our results suggest that La could up-regulate the ascorbate and glutathione metabolisms and could have an important role for acquisition of salt stress tolerance in Vigna radiata.     

光质对烟草叶片生长发育过程中抗氧化系统的影响

以云烟87植株为材料,通过覆盖白、红、黄、蓝、紫色滤膜获得不同光质,于大田条件下研究了光质对烟草叶片生长发育过程中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)等抗氧化酶活性,抗氧化剂谷胱甘肽(GSH)和抗坏血酸(AsA)以及丙二醛(MDA)含量的影响.结果表明,在烟草植株第11片叶生长发育的7~70 d内,其抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质含量呈现先升高后下降的变化趋势.与白光(对照)相比,黄光诱导烟草叶片SOD、CAT、APX和GR活性升高,以及AsA和GSH含量增加;而红光诱导APX和GR活性上升,以及GSH和AsA含量升高;但紫光却使SOD、CAT、POD、GR和GPX活性下降,GSH和AsA含量降低,而蓝光则使所有抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质含量降低.紫光和蓝光处理的烟草叶片中MDA含量较高,而黄光和红光处理的则较低.总体而言,在大田条件下,相对红光和黄光而言,蓝光和紫光处理下的烟草叶片更容易发生光氧化胁迫.     

Effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on the redox states of ascorbate and glutathione in maize leaves under salt stress

This study investigated the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on the redox states of ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) in maize leaves under NaCl (100 mM) stress. Salt stress increased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), Γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (Γ-ECS), and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage, and reduced the ratios of reduced and oxidised forms of AsA (AsA/DHA) and GSH (GSH/GSSG) compared with control. Pretreatment with NaHS (H₂S donor) further enhanced the activities of the above enzymes except MDHAR and ameliorated the decrease in the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG compared with the salt stress alone. Pretreatment with NaHS significantly reduced the malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage induced by the salt stress. Pretreatment with NaHS alone did not affect any of the above mentioned parameters compared with the control. Our results suggest that exogenous H2S could maintain the redox states of ascorbate and glutathione by up-regulating the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism and thus play an important role for acquisition of salt stress tolerance in maize.     

Early Abscisic Acid Accumulation Regulates Ascorbate and Glutathione Metabolism in Soybean Leaves Under Progressive Water Stress

Ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) play an important role in improving the tolerance of plants to water stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of early abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation on AsA and GSH metabolism in soybean plants after 24 h of exposure to progressive water stress. The results showed that AsA, total AsA, GSH and total GSH content, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), GSH reductase (GR), GSH peroxidase (GPX), l-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) activities were increased by progressive water stress. The above increases, except for total GSH content and the activities of GLDH and γ-GCS, were blocked by pretreatment with tungstate, an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor, which significantly suppressed the early increase in ABA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stressed plants. Application of ABA reversed the effects of tungstate. Pretreatments with several ROS scavengers, such as Tiron and dimethylthiourea (DMTU), and an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), significantly arrested the early accumulation of ROS but not ABA in stressed plants. Furthermore, the above-mentioned pretreatments remarkably prevented any increase in APX, MDHAR, DHAR, GR, and GPX activities, as well as AsA, total AsA and GSH levels in stressed plants. Our results indicated that early ABA accumulation caused by progressive water stress triggers an early rise in ROS levels, which, in turn, leads to regulation of AsA and GSH metabolism.

     

Nitric oxide modulates antioxidant defense and the methylglyoxal detoxification system and reduces salinity-induced damage of wheat seedlings

The present study investigates the possible regulatory role of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) in antioxidant defense and methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification systems of wheat seedlings exposed to salt stress (150 and 300 mM NaCl, 4 days). Seedlings were pre-treated for 24 h with 1 mM sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, and then subjected to salt stress. The ascorbate (AsA) content decreased significantly with increased salt stress. The amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the GSH/GSSG ratio increased with an increase in the level of salt stress. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased significantly with severe salt stress (300 mM). The ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities did not show significant changes in response to salt stress. The glutathione reductase (GR), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activities decreased upon the imposition of salt stress, especially at 300 mM NaCl, with a concomitant increase in the H₂O₂ and lipid peroxidation levels. Exogenous NO pre-treatment of the seedlings had little influence on the non-enzymatic and enzymatic components compared to the seedlings of the untreated control. Further investigation revealed that NO pre-treatment had a synergistic effect; that is, the pre-treatment increased the AsA and GSH content and the GSH/GSSG ratio, as well as the activities of MDHAR, DHAR, GR, GST, GPX, Gly I, and Gly II in most of the seedlings subjected to salt stress. These results suggest that the exogenous application of NO rendered the plants more tolerant to salinity-induced oxidative damage by enhancing their antioxidant defense and MG detoxification systems.     

Selenium-Induced Up-Regulation of the Antioxidant Defense and Methylglyoxal Detoxification System Reduces Salinity-Induced Damage in Rapeseed Seedlings

The present study investigates the regulatory role of exogenous selenium (Se) in the antioxidant defense and methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification systems in rapeseed seedlings exposed to salt stress. Twelve-day-old seedlings, grown in Petri dishes, were supplemented with selenium (25 μM Na₂SeO₄) and salt (100 and 200 mM NaCl) separately and in combination, and further grown for 48 h. The ascorbate (AsA) content of the seedlings decreased significantly with increased salt stress. The amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) increased with an increase in the level of salt stress, while the GSH/GSSG ratio decreased. In addition, the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased significantly with increased salt concentration (both at 100 and 200 mM NaCl), while glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity increased only at moderate salt stress (100 mM NaCl). Glutathione reductase (GR) activity remained unchanged at 100 mM NaCl, while it was decreased under severe (200 mM NaCl) salt stress. Monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activities decreased upon the imposition of salt stress, whereas a sharp decrease of these activities was observed under severe salt stress (200 mM NaCl). Concomitant increases in the levels of H₂O₂ and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were also measured. Exogenous Se treatment alone had little effect on the non-enzymatic and enzymatic components. However, further investigation revealed that Se treatment had a synergistic effect: in salt-stressed seedlings, it increased the AsA and GSH contents; GSH/GSSG ratio; and the activities of APX, MDHAR, DHAR, GR, GST, GPX, CAT, Gly I, and Gly II. As a result, addition of Se in salt-stressed seedlings led to a reduction in the levels of H₂O₂ and MDA as compared to salt stress alone. These results suggest that the exogenous application of Se rendered the plants more tolerant to salt stress-induced oxidative damage by enhancing their antioxidant defense and MG detoxification systems.