Effects of metalaxyl enantiomers stress on root activity and leaf antioxidant enzyme activities in tobacco seedlings

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of metalaxyl enantiomers on the activity of roots and antioxidative enzymes in tobacco seedlings. Water culture experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of different concentrations of metalaxyl enantiomers (30 and 10 mg L^?1) on root activity and leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of tobacco seedlings. The results showed that metalaxyl significantly inhibited root activity and significantly improved leaf SOD, POD, and CAT activities and MDA content. A better physiological response in tobacco seedlings was observed at 30 mg L^?1 than at 10 mg L^?1 metalaxyl. The stereoselectivity for different enantiomers had no obvious effect on root activity and the leaf POD activity, but it affected significantly the SOD and CAT activities and MDA content. The SOD activity was promoted more by R‐enantiomer than by S‐enantiomer at 30 mg L^?1 metalaxyl, and the same effect was observed on CAT activity from the beginning to the end of the stress period. The MDA content under the stress by R‐enantiomer was higher than that under the stress by S‐enantiomer at 10 mg L^?1 metalaxyl.     

Determination of some oxidative stress parameters in variegated leaves of Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb) bak

A significantly enhanced production of ethane due to sulphite treatment was observed only in the green fragments of variegated Chlorophytum comosum leaves but no increase in MDA content was found after sulphite treatment either in the green or in the white leaf fragments. The activity of SOD showed a tendency to increase while that of catalase significantly decreased only in the green leaf fragments after SO₂ fumigation. The higher level of oxidative damage in the green tissue could probably result from the Haber-Weiss reaction of generation of HO.     

Comparative analysis of thermotolerance of sunflower chlorophyll mutants

The influence of high temperatures on sunflower chlorophyll mutants was studied. The tolerance criteria were the level of chromosome aberrations and the mitotic index in the root apical meristem of seedlings, the level of nucleus-free cells in the epidermis of cotyledonous leaves, and the intensity of chlorophyll accumulation after the action of heat shock (HS). In addition, the frequency of plants with an altered content of pigments in M1 and M2 was analyzed. The results indicated that the plastomic mutant en-chlorina-5 is more tolerant to temperature stress as compared to other sunflower lines.     

不同时间的UV-B辐射对拟南芥幼苗生长的影响

以哥伦比亚野生型拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)为实验材料, 用辐射功率为16.67 μW·cm^-2但不同时间(0.5、1、1.5、2、2.5和3小时)的UV-B辐射对拟南芥幼苗进行处理, 观察叶片形态, 并测定其根长、叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、丙二醛(MDA)浓度、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及叶绿素荧光参数。结果显示, 短时间UV-B辐射可促进拟南芥根的伸长, 叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量升高; 长时间UV-B辐射则抑制拟南芥根的生长, 使叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m及qP逐渐降低, MDA浓度、SOD活性、CAT活性和qN值升高, 并随着时间的延长逐渐降低或升高。当辐射功率为16.67 μW·cm^-2时, 其最佳辐射时间为1.5小时。UV-B辐射作为一种环境胁迫, 其胁迫程度都是在一定的范围内, 当胁迫达到极限时, 植株都会对UV-B辐射产生一定的适应效应而使损伤降低。     

Effect of Pb on leaf antioxidant enzyme activities and ultrastructure of the two ecotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sedum alfredii</Emphasis> Hance

Hydroponic experiments were conducted to study the effect of Pb on growth, leaf antioxidant enzyme activities, and ultrastructure of the accumulating ecotype (AE) and non-accumulating ecotype (NAE) of Sedum alfredii Hance. AE was found to be more tolerant to excessive Pb levels in growth medium. Concentrations of Pb in the shoots of the AE were 1.98 times higher than those in the NAE when 0.2 mM Pb was supplied. Both chlorophyll a and b did not decrease significantly in AE plants after Pb treatment, while a significant decrease was noted in chlorophyll a and b of NAE plants treated with Pb concentrations greater than 0.05 mM. The results showed that activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were elevated in the leaves of AE under Pb stress. However in NAE, Pb-caused enhancement was noticed only in the activity of SOD while activity of CAT was declined as compared to the control plants. With increased Pb level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly in both ecotypes of S. alfredii, indicating that Pb toxicity led to lipid peroxidation and membrane damage, but MDA content in the leaves of NAE was always higher than in AE plants. The ultrastructural analysis of the spongy mesophyll cells revealed that excessive Pb concentrations obviously damaged the cell membrane, chloroplasts, and mitochondria of both the ecotypes but damage was more severe in NAE. Although growth, leaf physiology, and ultrastructure of both the ecotypes were affected by Pb treatment, deleterious effects were more pronounced in NAE. This text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Cytogenetic effect of temperature on the sunflower varieties

The influence of increased temperature on the intensity of fission and level of chromosome aberrations (ChA) in root meristeme cells of two lines of sunflower seedlings was studied. Within the first hour of seed germination, the temperature of 40 degrees C reduced proliferation activity of root meristeme cells line 3629 for almost the next 15 h of growth. Heat stress (HS) blocks the beginning of cell fission in the plastome mutant en-chlorina-5. However, subsequent by mitosis activity was seen to increase. The influence of HS on the ChA level is ambiguous: the effect depends on the duration of warm-up influence and the used sunflower lines. So, ChA level does not change inbred line 3629 even after 6 h HS. In mutant en-chlorina-5 the ChA level increases after 1 h HS and decreases after 3 and 6 h HS. The study of HS modification effect has shown that preliminary warm-up influence (40 degrees C for 1 h) reduces differences in reactions of cells 3629 of line on the action of different nitrosomethylurea (NMU) concentrations. Preliminary warm-up influence does not change sensitivity of en-chlorina-5 cells to NMU. The combined action of the increased temperature and NMU induce a powerful cytostatic effect.     

镉对小麦幼苗脂质过氧化和保护酶活性的影响

小麦幼苗经镉胁迫后,随着镉浓度的增高,叶征和根系中的膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）的含量和过氧物酶（ＰＯＤ）活性明显升高,超氧物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）活性也有所提高。叶片中ＭＤＡ积累量和ＳＯＤ活性都高于根,而ＰＯＤ活性则是根高于叶片。随幼苗生长时间延长,叶片和根中的ＭＤＡ积累量增加,而ＳＯＤ活性却降低。     

热带植物海巴戟抗寒株系选育

为了选育海巴戟（Morinda citrifolia）抗寒株系,拓宽种植范围,在云南元江选择8株海巴戟,采用石蜡切片法观察叶片解剖结构,并测量叶片的过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）、超氧化歧化酶（SOD）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量,对抗寒株系的甘油-3-磷酸酰基转移酶（GPAT）活性和GPAT表达进行定量分析。结果表明,叶片解剖结构表明有4株海巴戟叶片的栅海比较高,细胞结构紧密,确定为抗寒性优良的候选株系（5、6、8和12号）。5号植株叶片经低温处理后的CAT、POD、SOD活性较高,MDA含量较低,确定为抗寒株系,且低温处理后5号植株叶片的GPAT活性和GPAT基因表达水平均高于不抗寒材料。因此,海巴戟叶片通过增加栅海比和细胞结构紧密度,同时GPAT基因迅速应答来提高抗寒性。     

Modification of the Effect of Nitrosomethylurea on Sunflower Seedlings by Heat Shock

Separate and combined action of nitrosomethylurea (NMU) and heat shock (HS) on germination of seeds of the inbred line 3629 and derived nuclear and plastome mutant lines, n-chlorina-1 and en-chlorina-5, respectively, were studied. NMU at a concentration of 0.015%, as well as HS (40°C), had no effect on the spontaneous level of chromosome aberrations in root meristem of sunflower seedlings. However, at a concentration of 0.03%, the mutagen considerably increased the frequency of chromosome rearrangements. Pretreatment with heat for 30 min enhanced the cytogenetic effect of NMU (0.03%) on line 3629 seedlings. In the nuclear mutant, the reaction of root meristematic cells did not depend on the additional heat treatment. The combined action of HS and NMU at early germination stages had no effect on the survival of line 3629 plants and plastome mutant en-chlorina-5; the survival of n-chlorina-1 plants decreased. The highest frequency of M₁plants with chlorophyllic abnormalities (green revertants, lethals, and variegated forms) was observed in n-chlorina-1 line.     

Antioxidant enzyme activity and growth responses of Huangguogan citrus cultivar to nitrogen supplementation

ABSTRACT

This study examined the physiological effects of different amounts of nitrogen (N) supplementation (0 to 2.72 kg/year) on the citrus cultivar Huangguogan (Citrus reticulata × Citrus sinensis). Root activity, chlorophyll content, and fruit quality were measured, and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble protein in root, leaf, and fruit tissues were examined at different developmental stages. Root activity, chlorophyll content, fruit quality, antioxidant enzyme activity, MDA content, and soluble protein content increased in plants treated with an appropriate amount of N. Both excessive N and N deficiency decreased the content of MDA and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Application of 1.36–1.81 kg N/year is suggested for citrus fertilization and the lower end of this range is recommended for minimizing environmental impact and production cost.     

萝卜营养生长期超氧化物歧化酶活性和丙二醛含量的变化

研究了不同品种萝卜营养生长期其超氧化物歧化酶 ( SOD,EC1.15.1.1)活性及丙二醛( MDA)含量的变化。结果表明 :不同品种萝卜及同一品种萝卜在不同营养生长期其 SOD活性存在较大差异 ,SOD活性随叶龄的增大而升高 ,4 0 d时达最大峰值 ,随后下降 ;MDA含量在叶片展开后 4 0 d内缓慢上升 ,此后明显升高。SOD活性低的萝卜品种其丙二醛含量高 ,萝卜肉质根的 SOD活性高于叶片的 SOD活性。说明萝卜营养生长期存在活跃的活性氧代谢 ,SOD活性降低可能是引起 MDA含量升高的原因之一。     

Lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in relation to photoinhibition induced by chilling in moderate light

The effect of a chilling stress, at a moderate photon flux density for a few hours, on the peroxidation of membrane lipids and on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was compared in leaf slices of chilling-sensitive and chilling-insensitive plants. The aim was to determine if susceptibility to chill-temperature photoinhibition could be related to either damage to membrane lipids by superoxide and-or a decrease in activity of chloroplast SOD. Plants used were Nerium oleander L., grown at 45° C, and Cucumis sativus L., both susceptible to chill-temperature photoinhibition, and N. oleander, grown at 20° C and Spinacia oleracea L., both insensitive to chill-temperature photoinhibition. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Leaf slices from all plants showed a basal level of MDA which decreased by about 15% when the leaf slices were chilled in the light. The level of MDA was not increased by the addition of either KHCO₃ or methyl viologen during chilling but it was increased, up to threefold, by the addition of Rose Bengal, which produces singlet oxygen. Chloroplast SOD activity was assessed in leaf extracts as the cyanide-sensitive production of H₂O₂ in a system which produced superoxide. Activity of SOD was similar in all the plants and was altered little by chilling. The results show that for the plants tested, chilling at a moderate photon flux density for 5 h does not increase the susceptibility of cell membranes to peroxidative damage nor does it decrease the activity of SOD. It was concluded that the susceptibility of chilling-sensitive plants to chill-temperature photoinhibition cannot be explained on the basis of differences in the vulnerability of membrane lipids to damage by superoxide or differences in SOD activity.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - MDA malondialdehyde - MV methyl viologen - O ₂ ^- superoxide - 20°-oleander Nerium oleander grown at 20° C - 45°-oleander N. oleander grown at 45° C - PFD photon flux density - SOD superoxide dismutase Deceased     

Changes in antioxidant systems in sunflower partial resistant and susceptible lines as affected by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., is a major oil-seed crop widely cultivated throughout the globe. White mold, caused by necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a common and widespread disease of sunflower. Changes in various physiological activities such as production of malondialdehyde (MDA) as the main end product of lipid peroxidation, enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities and proline content, were investigated in leaves and stems of sunflower lines either resistant or susceptible to S. sclerotiorum. The results showed accumulation of high amount of free proline in the leaves of the resistant line. S. sclerotiorum invasion resulted in increase in the MDA content in both lines compared to the controls. Superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase activities significantly increased in the stem and leaves of inoculated lines. In the resistant line, Sclerotinia infection significantly induced catalase (CAT) activity both in the stem and leaves of contaminated plants. The activity of CAT was significantly decreased in susceptible line. Based on our results the activity of antioxidant enzymes was much pronounced in sunflower resistant line than in susceptible one. Studied lines showed distinctive activity considering different biochemical parameters, which may point to further directions in exploring host-pathogen interaction and lead to selection and production of new lines to achieve an improvement of plant adaptation to pathogen.     

Heat shock modification of nitrosomethylurea action on sunflower seedlings

Separate and combined action of nitrosomethylurea (NMU) and heat shock (HS) on germination of seeds of the inbred line 3629 and derived nuclear and plastome mutant lines, n-chlorina-1 and en-chlorina-5, respectively, were studied. NMU at a concentration of 0.015%, as well as HS (40 degrees C), had no effect on the spontaneous level of chromosome aberrations in root meristem of sunflower seedlings. However, at a concentration of 0.03%, the mutagen considerably increased the frequency of chromosome rearrangements. Pretreatment with heat for 30 min enhanced the cytogenetic effect of NMU (0.03%) on line 3629 seedlings. In the nuclear mutant, the reaction of root meristematic cells did not depend on the additional heat treatment. The combined action of HS and NMU at early germination stages had no effect on the survival of line 3629 plants and plastome mutant en-chlorina-5; the survival of n-chlorina-1 plants decreased. The highest frequency of M1 plants with chlorophyllic abnormalities (green revertants, lethals, and variegated forms) was observed in n-chlorina-1 line.     

Leaf senescence and lipid peroxidation: Effects of some phytohormones, and scavengers of free radicals and singlet oxygen

During in vitro senescence (chlorophyll loss) of oat ( Avena sativa L. cv. Victory) leaf segments and of leaf discs of Rumex obtusifolius L, the activity of catalase decreases and lipid peroxidation increases. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreases in Rumex leaf discs but changes little in oat leaf segments. Kinetin treatment of oat leaf segments, and GA₃ treatment of Rumex leaf discs, inhibit decline in the enzyme activities and increase in the level of lipid peroxidation and strongly inhibit senescence. In either leaf tissue a treatment with ethanol or vitamin E (scavengers of free radicals) or with diphenylisobenzofuran (scavenger of singlet oxygen) results in a strong inhibition of lipid peroxidation and senescence, but does not affect much the decline in the SOD and catalase activities. It is concluded that, i) senscence-associated lipid peroxidation is induced by free radicals and singlet oxygen; and, ii) kinetin and GA₃ inhibit senescence mainly by a modulation of lipid peroxidation through maintaining high levels of such cellular scavengers as SOD and catalase.     

Antioxidant responses of shoots and roots of lentil to NaCl-salinity stress

The effect of salt stress (100 mM and 200 mM NaCl) on antioxidant responses in shoots and roots of 14-day-old lentil (Lens culinaris M.) seedlings was investigated. Salt stress caused a significant decrease in length, wet-dry weight and an increase in proline content of both shoot and root tissues. In leaf tissues, high salinity treatment resulted in a 4.4 fold increase in H₂O₂ content which was accompanied by a significant level of lipid peroxidation and an increase in electrolyte leakage. Root tissues were less affected with respect to these parameters. Leaf tissue extracts exhibited four activity bands, of which two were identified as Cu/Zn-SOD and others as Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD. Fe-SOD activity was missing in root extracts. In both tissues Cu/Zn-SOD activity comprised 70–75% of total SOD activity. Salt stress did not cause a significant increase in total SOD activity of leaf tissues but a significant enhancement (88%) was observed in roots mainly due to an enhancement in Cu/ZnSOD isoforms. Compared to leaf tissues a significantly higher constitutive ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathion reductase (GR) activity was observed in root tissues. Upon salt stress no significant change in the activity of APX, catalase (CAT) and GR was observed in root tissues but a higher APX activity was present when compared to leaf tissues. On the other hand, in leaf tissues, with the exception of CAT, salt stress caused significant enhancement in the activity of other antioxidant enzymes. These results suggested that, root tissues of lentil are protected better from NaCl stress induced oxidative damage due to enhanced total SOD activity together with a higher level of APX activity under salinity stress. To our knowledge this is the first report describing antioxidant enzyme activities in lentil.     

Effect of weak pulse magnetic fields on lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant complex components in pea chloroplasts

The effects of magnetic fields (MF) with different intensity, which are applied in magnetotherapy, on the redox homeostasis in chloroplasts of two-week-old pea (Pisum sativum L.) cvs. Albumen and Shustrik were studied. The seedlings were treated with weak MF produced by the generators UMTI-ZF or that from Electro-Biology firm for 15, 30, 60, and 120 min. Production of early and final products of lipid peroxidation (POL) (dienoic conjugates, MDA, and Schiff bases) and also activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of ascorbic acid (Asc) in chloroplasts were assessed. The stronger pulse MF (PMF-1) induced a stable decrease of POL products, whereas the weaker PMF-2 induced reversible accumulation of dienoic conjugates and Schiff bases. PMF-1 successively activated SOD, inhibited it, and finally stabilized its activity at the control level. Similar treatment with PMF-2 induced similar SOD activity changes but did not inhibit SOD. The faster response of Asc to PMF-1 was noted.     

Water Pumping Activity of the Root System in the Process of Cross-Adaptation of Sunflower Plants to Hyperthermia and Water Deficiency

To elucidate the mechanisms of cross-adaptation, we investigated the effect of heat shock (HS, for 2 h at 45°C) on leaf tolerance to overheating and exudation by roots detached from 25–30-day old sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants. It was demonstrated that preheating enhanced considerably leaf tolerance and activated root exudation, especially under water deficiency produced by plant transfer to the hypertonic NaCl solution (17 mM). Under water deficiency conditions, the roots of HS-treated plants pumped water against the osmotic pressure (OP) gradient between the exudate and the external solution. Therefore, we concluded that this pumping was realized due to a metabolic (non-osmotic) constituent of root pressure. In the roots of plants that were not treated with HS, the OP gradient became positive. This fact implies that the HS-pretreatment of plants retarded the penetration of sodium and chlorine ions into roots. The data obtained demonstrate that HS induced a cross-adaptation of plants to high temperature and water deficiency. Such cross-adaptation involves, as an important component, an acceleration of water metabolism, including an enhanced water pumping activity of root system.     

Comparative study of alleviating effects of GSH, Se and Zn under combined contamination of cadmium and chromium in rice (Oryza sativa)

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the ameliorative effects of separate or combined application of exogenous glutathione (GSH), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) upon 20 μM cadmium (Cd) plus 20 μM chromium (Cr) heavy metal stress (HM) in rice seedlings. The results showed that HM caused a marked reduction in seedling height, chlorophyll content (SPAD) and biomass, and activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves and H⁺-ATPase in roots/leaves, but elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) activities in leaves with elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation both in leaves and roots over the control. The best mitigation effect was recorded in HM+GSH+Zn and HM+GSH (addition of GSH+Zn and GSH to HM solution), which greatly alleviated HM-induced growth inhibition and oxidative stress. Compared with HM alone, HM+GSH and HM+GSH+Zn markedly reduced Cr uptake and translocation but not affected Cd concentration; improved H⁺-ATPase activity and Fe, Zn, Mn uptake and translocation, and repressed MDA accumulation. Meanwhile exogenous GSH and GSH+Zn counteracted HM-induced response of antioxidant enzymes, via suppressing HM-induced dramatic increase of root/leaf SOD and leaf POD activities, and elevating stress-depressed leaf APX and leaf/root CAT activities.     

Responses of sunflower chlorophyll mutants to increased temperature and oxidative burst

A tolerance of nuclear, plastome, and mitochondrial mutants of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to extreme factors, increased temperature and oxidative stress, which was simulated by hyperbaric oxygenation was studied. In model experiments, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were assayed; cytogenetic analysis was used for the assessments of proliferative activity of cells in the root meristem; in field experiments, seedling emergence and growth at the stage of 3–4 leaf pair were evaluated. Most tolerant to increased temperature and oxygen pressure were a plastome en:chlorina-5 mutant and a partial revertant pr6-en:chlorina-7 with a changed structure of mitochondrial DNA.