Involvement of antioxidant defense system in chill hardening-induced chilling tolerance in Jatropha curcas seedlings

Jatropha curcas L. is a sustainable energy plant with great potential for biodiesel production, and low temperature is an important limiting factor for its distribution and production. In this present work, chill hardening-induced chilling tolerance and involvement of antioxidant defense system were investigated in J. curcas seedlings. The results showed that chill hardening at 10 or 12 °C for 1 and 2 days greatly lowered death rate and alleviated electrolyte leakage as well as accumulation of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) of J. curcas seedlings under severe chilling stress at 1 °C for 1–7 days, indicating that the chill hardening significantly improved chilling tolerance of J. curcas seedlings. Measurement of activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR), and the levels of the antioxidants ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) showed the chill hardening at 12 °C for 2 days could obviously increase the activities of these antioxidant enzymes and AsA and GSH contents in the hardened seedlings. When the hardened and non-hardening (control) seedlings were subjected to severe chilling stress at 1 °C for 1–7 days, the chill-hardened seedlings generally maintained significantly higher activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, APX, CAT, POD, and GR, and content of the antioxidants AsA and GSH as well as ratio of the reduced antioxidants to total antioxidants [AsA/(AsA + DHA) and GSH/(GSH + GSSG)], when compared with the control without chill hardening. All above-mentioned results indicated that the chill hardening could enhance the chilling tolerance, and the antioxidant defense system plays an important role in the chill hardening-induced chilling tolerance in J. curcas seedlings.     

Effect of pretreatment with hydrogen sulfide donor sodium hydrosulfide on heat tolerance in relation to antioxidant system in maize (Zea mays) seedlings

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a signal molecule that is involved in plant growth, development and the acquisition of stress tolerance including heat tolerance, but the mechanism of H₂S-induced heat tolerance is not completely clear. In present study, the effect of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a H₂S donor, treatment on heat tolerance of maize seedlings in relation to antioxidant system was investigated. The results showed that NaHS treatment improved survival percentage of maize seedlings under heat stress in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that H₂S treatment could improve heat tolerance of maize seedlings. To further study mechanism of NaHS-induced heat tolerance, catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, and glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents in maize seedlings were determined. The results showed that NaHS treatment increased the activities of CAT, GPX, SOD and GR, and GSH and AsA contents as well as the ratio of reduced antioxidants to total antioxidants [AsA/(AsA+DHA) and GSH/(GSH +GSSG)] in maize seedlings under normal culture conditions compared with the control. Under heat stress, antioxidant enzymes activities, antioxidants contents and the ratio of the reduced antioxidants to total antioxidants in control and treated seedlings all decreased, but NaHS-treated seedlings maintained higher antioxidant enzymes activities and antioxidants levels as well as the ratio of reduced antioxidants to total antioxidants. All of above-mentioned results suggested that NaHS treatment could improve heat tolerance of maize seedlings, and the acquisition of this heat tolerance may be relation to enhanced antioxidant system activity.     

抗氧化系统参与循环干旱锻炼提高烟草植株抗旱性的形成

对漂浮育苗的烟草幼苗进行控水-半萎焉-复水-恢复的循环干旱锻炼。结果表明,这种干旱锻炼能显著提高烟草叶片抗氧化剂谷胱甘肽（GSH）、抗坏血酸（AsA）的含量、还原型抗氧化剂在总抗氧化剂中的比例和抗氧化酶包括超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、愈创木酚过氧化物酶（GPX）、谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）的活性,降低丙二醛（MDA）的含量。当烟草植株遭受后续的干旱胁迫时,与未锻炼的对照相比,干旱锻炼过的烟草植株能保持较高的GSH和AsA含量、还原型抗氧化剂在总抗氧化剂中的比例和抗氧化酶（SOD、APx、CAT、GPX和GR）活性,以及较低的MDA含量,表明这种循环干旱锻炼提高了细胞抗氧化能力,有助于缓解烟草植株由干旱引起的氧化胁迫及其所导致的伤害,最终提高其抗旱性。这些结果表明。抗氧化系统参与了循环干旱锻炼提高烟草植株抗旱性的形成过程。     

Involvement of compatible solutes in chill hardening-induced chilling tolerance in Jatropha curcas seedlings

Low temperature is a major environmental factor that affects metabolism, growth, development, distribution and production of chilling-sensitive plant, and J. curcas L. is a sustainable energy plant with great potential for biodiesel production due to the fact that its seed contains high oil content, which has attracted much attention worldwide. Our previous work found that the chill hardening improved the chilling tolerance of J. curcas seedlings (Ao et al. in Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 35:153–160, 2013), but its mechanism still remains elusive. In present work, the mechanism of chill hardening-induced chilling tolerance was further investigated in J. curcas seedlings. The results showed that chill hardening at 12 °C for 2 days markedly lowered osmotic and water potentials, which, in turn, maintained relative higher pressure potential in leaves of J. curcas seedlings compared with the control seedlings without chill hardening. In addition, chill hardening gradually increased compatible solutes proline, betaine and total soluble sugar contents compared with the control. When the control and hardened seedlings were subjected to chilling stress at 1 °C for 1–7 days, the chill-hardened seedlings significantly accumulated higher proline, betaine and total soluble sugar contents, which decreased osmotic and water potentials, and maintained higher pressure potential. To further understand the pathways of accumulation of compatible solutes, measurement of activities of ?¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), arginase, proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) and betaine dehydrogenase (BADH) showed that the chill hardening at 12 °C for 2 days obviously increased the activities of P5CS, GDH, OAT, arginase and BADH, as well as lowered ProDH activity both in leaves and stems of J. curcas seedlings to some extent as compared with the control. When the control and hardened seedlings were exposed to chilling stress at 1 °C for 1–7 days, the chill-hardened seedlings generally maintained significantly higher activities of P5CS, GDH, OAT, arginase and BADH. All above-mentioned results illustrated that the chill hardening could induce an accumulation of compatible solutes in leaves of J. curcas seedlings and compatible solutes play important roles in chill hardening-induced chilling tolerance.     

Spermidine pretreatment enhances heat tolerance in rice seedlings through modulating antioxidative and glyoxalase systems

This study was undertaken to investigate the possible involvement of the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems in protecting rice seedlings from heat-induced damage in the presence of spermidine (Spd). Hydroponically grown 14-day-old seedlings were subjected to foliar spray with Spd (1 mM, 24 h) prior to heat stress (42 °C, 48 h) followed by subsequent recovery (27 °C, 48 h). Lipoxygenase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and proline (Pro) content increased significantly whereas fresh weight (FW) and chlorophyll (Chl) content decreased during heat stress and after recovery, indicating unrecoverable damage to rice seedlings. Heat-induced damage was also evident in decreased levels of ascorbate (AsA), glutathione (GSH), and AsA and GSH redox ratios. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased during heat stress but declined after recovery. Activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) decreased during heat stress but an opposite trend for most of these enzymes was observed after recovery. Heat stress also resulted in significant increases in the activities of glyoxalase enzymes (Gly I and Gly II). In contrast, exogenous Spd protected rice seedlings from heat-induced damage as marked by lower levels of MDA, H₂O₂, and Pro content coupled with increased levels of AsA, GSH, FW, Chl, and AsA and GSH redox status. After recovery, Spd-pretreated heat-exposed seedlings displayed higher activities of SOD, CAT, GPX, GST APX, DHAR and GR as well as of Gly I and Gly II. In addition, polyamine analysis revealed that exogenously applied Spd significantly elevated the levels of free and soluble conjugated Spd. Therefore, we conclude from our results that heat exposure provoked an oxidative burden while enhancement of the antioxidative and glyoxalase systems by Spd rendered rice seedlings more tolerant to heat stress. Further, co-induction of the antioxidative and glyoxalase systems was closely associated with Spd mediated enhanced level of GSH.     

外源γ-氨基丁酸对低氧胁迫下甜瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

以甜瓜品种‘西域一号’幼苗为材料,采用营养液水培方法,设置正常通气(对照)、正常通气+GABA(5mmol.L-1)、低氧胁迫、低氧胁迫+GABA(5mmol.L-1)4个处理,研究了外源γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)对正常通气和低氧胁迫下甜瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明:与正常通气处理相比,低氧胁迫处理导致甜瓜幼苗体内O2.-产生速率和H2O2、MDA含量显著增加,同时SOD、POD、CAT、APX、GR等抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质AsA、GSH含量显著提高。低氧胁迫下外源GABA能显著提高甜瓜幼苗叶片SOD、CAT、APX、GR等酶活性和AsA、GSH含量,降低了植株体内O2.-产生速率和H2O2、MDA含量;而正常通气条件下添加外源GABA处理对甜瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响较小,仅CAT、GR活性和AsA、GSH含量显著提高,而H2O2、MDA含量显著降低。结果证明,添加外源GABA可以通过显著提高低氧胁迫下抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质含量来降低甜瓜幼苗活性氧积累,维持其细胞膜结构稳定性,从而有效减轻低氧胁迫对甜瓜幼苗的伤害。     

外源24-表油菜素内酯对高温胁迫下茄子幼苗生长和抗氧化系统的影响

本文研究了高温胁迫下外源24-表油菜素内酯（EBR）对茄子幼苗生长和抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明,外源EBR处理显著促进了高温胁迫下茄子幼苗生长,提高了SOD、POD、CAT和APXS活性,AsA和GSH含量及可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸含量,降低了MDA、O2^-及H2O含量。表明,外源EBR处理通过促进高温胁迫下茄子幼苗抗氧化酶活性、抗氧化剂含量及渗透调节物质的提高,降低ROS水平,缓解高温胁迫对茄子幼苗生长的抑制作用,增强植株抗高温胁迫的能力。     

外源水杨酸对高温胁迫下葡萄几种抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物含量的影响

本文以二年生‘克瑞森’无核葡萄为材料,探明外源水杨酸（SA）对高温胁迫下葡萄体内几种酶活性和抗氧化物质含量的影响及其在抗高温胁迫中的作用。实验结果表明,与对照相比,外源SA可以促进高温胁迫下葡萄叶片内ASA和GSH含量的积累,维持较高的APX、GR、SOD、POD和CAT活性。外源SA可能通过提高高温胁迫下葡萄体内抗氧化水平,削弱了高温胁迫对葡萄植株的氧化胁迫伤害作用。     

Cd~(2+)胁迫对小桐子幼苗叶片抗氧化系统的影响

以小桐子幼苗为材料,设置不同浓度CdCl_2处理,测定Cd~(2+)胁迫对小桐子幼苗叶片中可溶性蛋白、丙二醛(MDA)含量,以及5种抗氧化酶活性和2种抗氧化剂含量的变化,探讨镉胁迫对小桐子幼苗抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明:(1)Cd~(2+)胁迫导致小桐子幼苗叶片中可溶性蛋白含量降低、MDA含量增加;(2)随着镉胁迫时间的延长,幼苗叶片中愈创木酚过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸专一性过氧化酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)等抗氧化酶活性表现出先升高然后降低的变化趋势;(3)幼苗叶片中还原型抗坏血酸(ASA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量随着胁迫时间延长而降低,但其中氧化型抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量则升高。研究表明,镉胁迫初期能诱导小桐子幼苗抗氧化系统活性显著增强,提高其抗氧化能力,但随着胁迫时间的延长,致使其抗氧化酶的活性和抗氧物质含量下降,植株遭受明显氧化胁迫,幼苗生长受到镉的严重毒害。     

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.     

CPPU提高柚树苗抗旱性的研究

水分胁迫下,柚树苗叶片RWC、ψW、Pn及可溶性蛋白质、叶绿素含量下降,游离脯氨酸、MDA含量及SOD活性升高,CAT活性先上升后下降,APX活性、AsA和GSH含量明显下降,抗旱性强的品种具有较高的活性氧清除能力。CPPU处理提高柚树苗叶片RWC、Pn、叶绿素、游离脯氨酸、AsA、GSH含量,并增强SOD、APX活性,降低MDA水平,从而提高柚树苗抗旱性。实验结果表明,CPPU处理提高叶片对膜脂过氧化作用的保护能力可能是其提高柚树苗抗旱性的原因。     

冷锻炼和ABA诱导水稻幼苗提高抗冷性期间膜保护系统的变化

冷锻炼和ＡＢＡ处理提高了水稻幼苗叶绿体ＳＯＤ和ＧＲ活性及叶片抗氧化剂ＡｓＡ和ＧＳＨ的含量,降低了膜电解质泄漏,增强了幼苗的抗冷性．等电聚焦电泳分析表明,冷锻炼和ＡＢＡ处理苗叶绿体ＳＯＤ三条同工酶带和ＧＲ１、２、３和６同工酶带都有不同程度的增强．低温胁迫后,处理和未处理首的ＳＯＤ、ＧＲ活性和ＡＳＡ、ＧＳＨ含量均有所下降．但处理苗的水平仍维持在未处理苗之上．亚胺环已酮可抑制因冷锻炼和ＡＢＡ诱导增加的ＳＯＤ和ＧＲ活性,并使叶片电解质泄漏增大．本试验结果表明冷锻炼或ＡＢＡ诱导水稻幼苗抗冷性提高时,对防御活性氧的保护系统有类似的影响。     

Modulation of Antioxidant Machinery and the Methylglyoxal Detoxification System in Selenium-Supplemented Brassica napus Seedlings Confers Tolerance to High Temperature Stress

We investigated the protective role of selenium (Se) in minimizing high temperature-induced damages to rapeseed (Brassica napus L. cv. BINA Sarisha 3) seedlings. Ten-day-old seedlings which had been supplemented with Se (25 μM Na₂SeO₄) or not were grown separately under control temperature (25 °C) or high temperature (38 °C) for a period of 24 or 48 h in nutrient solution. Heat stress caused decrease in chlorophyll and leaf relative water content (RWC) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), proline (Pro), and methylglyoxal (MG) contents. Ascorbate (AsA) content decreased at any duration of heat treatment. The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) increased only at 24 h of stress, while glutathione disulfide (GSSG) markedly increased at both duration of heat exposure with associated decrease in GSH/GSSG ratio. Upon heat treatment the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glyoxalase I (Gly I) were increased, while the activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and catalase (CAT) were decreased. The activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) remained unchanged under heat stress. However, heat-treated seedlings which were supplemented with Se significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂, and MG content and enhanced the content of chlorophyll, Pro, RWC, AsA, and GSH as well as the GSH/GSSG ratio. Selenium supplemented heat-treated seedlings also showed enhanced activities of MDHAR, DHAR, GR, GPX, CAT, Gly I, and Gly II as compared to heat-treated seedlings without Se supplementation. This study concludes that exogenous Se application confers heat stress tolerance in rapeseed seedlings by upregulating the antioxidant defense mechanism and methylglyoxal detoxification system.     

Cinnamic acid pretreatment mitigates chilling stress of cucumber leaves through altering antioxidant enzyme activity

To elucidate the physiological mechanism of chilling stress mitigated by cinnamic acid (CA) pretreatment, a cucumber variety (Cucumis sativus cv. Jinchun no. 4) was pretreated with 50 μM CA for 2 d and was then cultivated at two temperatures (15/8 and 25/18 °C) for 1 d. We investigated whether exogenous CA could protect cucumber plantlets from chilling stress (15/8 °C) and examined whether the protective effect was associated with the regulation of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation. At 2 d, exogenous CA did not influence plant growth, but induced the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.6.4.2) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) in cucumber leaves, and it also elevated the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (AsA). When CA was rinsed and the CA-pretreated seedlings were exposed to different temperatures, the antioxidant activities in leaves at 3 d had undergone additional change. Chilling increased the activities of CAT, GSH-PX, APX, GSH and AsA in leaves, but the combination of CA pretreatment and chilling enhanced the antioxidant activities even more. Moreover, chilling inhibited plant growth and increased the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide radical (O₂⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in cucumber leaves, and the stress resulted in 87.5% of the second leaves being withered. When CA pretreatment was combined with the chilling stress, we observed alleviated growth inhibition and decreased contents of MDA, H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ in comparison to non-pretreated stressed plants, and found that the withered leaves occurred at a rate of 25.0%. We propose that CA pretreatment increases antioxidant enzyme activities in chilling-stressed leaves and decreases lipid peroxidation to some extent, enhancing the tolerance of cucumber leaves to chilling stress.     

CPPU提高柚树苗抗旱性的研究

水分胁迫下,柚树苗叶片RWC、ψw、Pn及可溶性蛋白质,叶绿素含量下降,游离脯氨酸、MDA含量及SOD活性升高,CAT活性先上升后下降,APX活性、AsA和GSH含量明显下降,抗旱性强的品种具有较高的活性氧清除能力。CPPU处理提高柚树苗叶片RWC、Pn、叶绿素、游离脯氨酸、AsA、GSH含量,并增加SOD、APX活性,降低MDA水平,从而提高柚树苗抗旱性。实验结果表明,CPPU处理提高叶片对膜脂过氧化作用的保护能力可能是其提高柚树苗抗旱性的原因。     

抗氧化系统在H2O2诱导的玉米幼苗耐热性形成中的作用

H2O2预处理可显著增强玉米幼苗的耐热性.H2O2预处理后,玉米幼苗抗氧化酶谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的活性及还原型抗氧化剂抗坏血酸(ASA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)的水平显著提高,且H2O2预处理过的幼苗在高温处理期间及其后的恢复过程中均能保持相对较高的抗氧化酶活力和还原型/氧化型抗氧化剂比例.     

Postharvest chilling induces oxidative stress response in the dwarf tomato cultivar Micro-Tom

Oxidative stress is involved in the response of Lycopersicon esculentum fruits (cultivar Micro-Tom) to chilling. Changes in activated oxygen scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) were examined during ripening after postharvest chilling. Also, lipid peroxidation, respiration, and pigment contents were determined. These parameters were affected by chilling, especially the lycopene content and the respiration rate that showed a high value when the fruits were transferred to higher temperatures. CAT activity increased the day after the fruits were re-warmed, while the activity of GR was higher in the chilled than in the non-chilled green fruits. Lipid peroxidation was more evident at the 'pre-chilled' yellow and red fruits. APX and SOD were not affected by previous chilling in ripening fruits. These results indicate that oxidative stress is generated by conservation at 4°C. The antioxidant response of tomato fruit could be mediated by CAT and GR but not by SOD or APX. Moreover, CAT seemed to respond to the increase in the respiration rate.     

Differential responses of antioxidative defense system to prolonged salinity stress in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive Indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings

The present investigation evaluated the ability of an antioxidative defense system in terms of the tolerance against salinity-induced oxidative stress and also explored a possible relationship between the status of the components of an antioxidative defense system and the salt tolerance in Indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes. When the seedlings of a salt-sensitive cultivar was grown in sand cultures containing different NaCl concentrations (7 and 14 dS m^?1) for 5–20 days, a substantial increase was observed in the rate of superoxide anion (O ₂ ^·? ) production, elevated levels of H₂O₂ and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) which indicated an enhancement in lipid peroxidation. A declination in the level of thiol clearly indicated an increase in the protein oxidation as well as a decline in the reduced forms of ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) and the ratios of their reduced to oxidized forms occurred in the salt-sensitive seedlings. Similar treatment caused a very little alteration or no change in the levels of these components in the seedlings of salt-tolerant cultivar. The activity of antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), its isoform Cu/Zn-SOD and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased in both the cultivars against salinity. In salt-sensitive seedlings, the activity of the various enzymes, guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) increased at moderate salinity treatment of 7 dS m^?1 NaCl while the activities of these enzymes declined with higher salinity level of 14 dS m^?1 NaCl. However, a consistent increase was observed in the activities of these enzymes of salt-tolerant seedlings with an increase in the duration and the level of the salinity treatment. The results suggest that a higher status of antioxidants (AsA and GSH) and a coordinated higher activity of the enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX, APX, and GR) can serve as the major determinants in the model for depicting salt tolerance in Indica rice seedlings.     

Effect of Cold Hardening on SOD and Glutathion Reductase Activities and on the Contents of the Reduced Form of Glutathion and Ascorbic Acid in Rice and Cucumber Seedlings

Rice and cucumber seedlings were employed in the study on changes of superoxide dismatase (SOD) and glutathion reductase (GR) activities, the contents of the reduced form of glutathion (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ASA) in leaves and the chilling resistance as well as the level of lipid peroxidation products after cold hardening and chilling stress under light. The seedlings hardened under a day/night temperature variation of 15 ℃/10 ℃ and photon flux density (PFD) of 250μmol · m-2 · s-1 for 12 h/d indicated an increase of the activities of SOD and GR, and the contents of GSH and AsA. The resistance of the seedlings to chilling and light stress was enhanced by cold hardening. Under the stress condition, the stabilities of SOD and GR activities, and contents of GSH and AsA in hardened seedlings were higher than those in the unhardened seedlings; the lipid peroxidation was also less than that in the latter. It was thus concluded that cold-hardening under appropriate light leads on to the enhancement of function of membrane protective system and increase of cell membrane stability which is an important part of chilling-resistance mechanism in the plant.