Osmoregulation and osmoprotection in the leaf cells of two olive cultivars subjected to severe water deficit |
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Authors: | Mustapha Ennajeh Ahmadou Mohamed Vadel Habib Khemira |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology Applied to Crop Improvement, Faculty of Sciences of Gabès, Cité Erriadh, Zrig, 6072 Gabès, Tunisia |
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Abstract: | In this study, we compared the efficacy of defense mechanisms against severe water deficit in the leaves of two olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars, ‘Chemlali’ and ‘Meski’, reputed drought resistant and drought sensitive, respectively. Two-year old plants
growing in sand filled 10-dm3 pots were not watered for 2 months. Changes in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and malondialdehyde content as leaf relative
water content (RWC) decreased showed that ‘Chemlali’ was able to maintain functional and structural cell integrity longer
than ‘Meski’. Mannitol started to accumulate later in the leaves of ‘Chemlali’ but reached higher levels than in the leaves
of ‘Meski’. The latter accumulated several soluble sugars at lower dehydration. ‘Chemlali’ leaves also accumulated larger
quantities of phenolic compounds which can improve its antioxidant response. Furthermore, the activity of three antioxidant
enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased as leaf RWC decreased. However, differences
were observed between the two cultivars for CAT and POD but not for APX. The activity of the first two enzymes increased earlier
in ‘Meski’, but reached higher levels in ‘Chemlali’. At low leaf hydration levels, ‘Chemlali’ leaves accumulated mannitol
and phenolic compounds and had increased CAT and POD activities. These observations suggest that ‘Chemlali’ was more capable
of maintaining its leaf cell integrity under severe water stress because of more efficient osmoprotection and antioxidation
mechanisms. |
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Keywords: | Antioxidant enzymes Chlorophyll fluorescence Drought tolerance Malondialdehyde Olea europaea L Mannitol |
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