Comparative response of maize and rice genotypes to heat stress: status of oxidative stress and antioxidants

In the present study, two genotypes each of maize and rice were compared for their response to varying degrees of temperature stress (35/30, 40/35, 45/40°C) with controls growing at 30/25°C. At elevated temperatures of 40/35 and 45/40°C, the rice genotypes were inhibited to a significantly higher extent, especially for their shoot growth compared to maize genotypes. The stress injury measured as damage to membranes, loss of chlorophyll and reduction in leaf water status was significantly higher in rice plants, especially at 45/40°C. The components of oxidative stress particularly the level of malondialdehyde was significantly greater in rice plants while the differences for hydrogen peroxide concentrations were small at 40/35 and 45/40°C. The expression of enzymatic antioxidants like catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase was found to be higher in maize plants compared to rice plants while no variations existed for superoxide dismutase at 45/40°C. In addition, the non-enzymatic antioxidants like ascorbic acid, glutathione and proline were maintained at significantly greater levels at 45/40°C in maize than in rice genotypes. These findings suggested that maize genotypes were able to retain their growth under high-temperature conditions partly due to their superior ability to cope up with oxidative damage by heat stress compared to rice genotypes. Since, maize and rice belong to C₄ and C₃ plant groups, respectively, these observations may also reflect the relative sensitivity of these plant groups to heat stress.     

Abscisic acid induces heat tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings by facilitated accumulation of osmoprotectants

The gradual rise of global temperature is of major concern for growth and development of crops. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a heat-sensitive crop and hence experiences damage at its vegetative and reproductive stages. Abscisic acid (ABA), a stress-related hormone, is reported to confer heat tolerance, but its mechanism is not fully known, especially whether it involves osmolytes (such as proline, glycine betaine and trehalose) in its action or not. Osmolytes too have a vital role in saving the plants from injurious effects of heat stress by multiple mechanisms. In the present study, we examined the interactive effects of ABA and osmolytes in chickpea plants grown hydroponically at varying temperatures of 30/25°C (control), 35/30, 40/35 and 45/40°C (as day/night (12?h/12?h)): (a) in the absence of ABA; (b) with ABA; and (c) in the presence of its biosynthetic inhibitor fluridone (FLU). The findings indicated severe growth inhibition at 45/40°C that was associated with drastic reduction in endogenous ABA and osmolytes compared to the unstressed plants suggesting a possible relationship between them. Exogenous application of ABA (2.5???M) significantly mitigated the seedling growth at 40/35 and 45/40°C, while FLU application intensified the inhibition. The increase in growth by ABA at stressful temperature was associated with enhancement of endogenous levels of ABA and osmolytes, while this was suppressed by FLU. ABA-treated plants experienced much less oxidative damage measured as malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents. Exogenous application of proline, glycine betaine and trehalose (10???M) also promoted the growth in heat-stressed plants and their action was not significantly affected with FLU application, suggesting that these osmolytes function downstream of ABA, mediating partially the protective effect of this hormone.     

Alleviation of Negative Effects of Water Stress in Two Contrasting Wheat Genotypes by Calcium and Abscisic Acid

The individual and interactive role of calcium and abscisic acid (ABA) in amelioration of water stress simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 was investigated in two contrasting wheat genotypes. PEG solution (osmotic potential –1.5 MPa) was applied to 10-d-old seedlings growing under controlled conditions and changes in photosynthetic rate, activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, water potential and stomatal conductance were observed in the presence of 0.1 mM ABA, 5 mM calcium chloride, 1 mM verapamil (Ca²⁺ channel blocker), and 1 mM fluridone (inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis). ABA and calcium chloride ameliorated the effects of water stress and the combination of the two was more effective. The two genotypes varied for their sensitivity to ABA and Ca²⁺ under stress. As was evident from application of their inhibitors, ABA caused more alleviation in C 306 (drought tolerant) while HD 2380 (drought susceptible) was more sensitive to Ca²⁺.     

A highly thermostable and alkaline amylase from a Bacillus sp. PN5

A highly thermostable alkaline amylase producing Bacillus sp. PN5 was isolated from soil, which yielded 65.23 U mL(-1) of amylase in medium containing (%) 0.6 starch, 0.5 peptone and 0.3 yeast extract at 60 degrees C, pH 7.0 after 60 h of incubation. Maximum amylase activity was at pH 10.0 and 90 degrees C. The enzyme retained 80% activity after 1 h at pH 10.0. It exhibited 65% activity at 105 degrees C and had 100% stability in the temperature range between 80 and 100 degrees C for 1 h. In addition, there was 86.36% stability after 1-h incubation with sodium dodecylsulphate. These properties indicated possible use of this amylase in starch saccharification and detergent formulation.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial,antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Lepidium sativum seed oil

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) seed oil was examined for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, where gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry that utilized to study its chemical composition. Microdilution method was used to test the antimicrobial effect of oil against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity was assessed by radical scavenging activity assay using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. The major constituents found in the oil were 7,10-hexadecadienoic acid, 11-octadecenoic acid, 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid, and behenic acid. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against all pathogens was 47.5 mg/ml, except for Salmonella enterica, which showed MIC of 90 mg/ml. The oil demonstrated antioxidant activity in a dose dependent pattern, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 40 mg/ml, and exerted anti-inflammatory activity, wherein 21% protection was shown at a concentration of 300 μg/ml. Thus, L. sativum seed oil shows antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.     

Carbendazim alleviates effects of water stress on chickpea seedlings

Carbendazim (methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate) promoted root growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG, osmotic potential −0.5 MPa) induced water stress. The relative water content, membrane stability index, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride reduction and contents of some osmolytes (proline, sucrose, glucose and fructose) enhanced significantly while the contents of lipid peroxides and hydrogen peroxide diminished effectively by addition of 0.05 % carbendazim into PEG solution. This revised version was published online in September 2005 with the corrected author information.     

Pollination-induced floral senescence in orchids: Status of oxidative stress

The orchid flowers may stay fresh in unpollinated state from few weeks to months but show rapid senescence upon pollination. Metabolic changes related to this phenomenon are less well understood in orchid flowers. Presently, two orchid species, Aerides multiflora Roxb. and Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Bl., varying in their floral life span were evaluated for their postpollination-induced responses, involving the oxidative stress. The unpollinated flowers of A. multiflora stayed fresh for 17 days and attained senescence in 5 days after pollination (DAP), while those of R. retusa. remained fresh for 24 days and showed senescence in 7 DAP. After pollination, wilting began in 2 to 3 days in A. multiflora and 3 to 4 days in R. retusa. There was a higher electrolyte leakage accompanied by a concomitant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), indicators of oxidative damage in all the organs after pollination while ascorbic acid decreased significantly. The flowers of A. multiflora showed a greater electrolyte leakage, MDA and H₂O₂ contents as compared to those of R. retusa. Ascorbic acid content, on the other hand, was lower in A. multiflora than in R. retusa, suggesting a higher oxidative damage to the floral organs in the former species. An application of triiodobenzoic acid ( an auxin inhibitor; 0.25 mM) and silver nitrate (ethylene inhibitor; 0.25 mM) to pollinated flowers partially prevented the oxidative damage and consequently the senescence, suggesting the involvement of these hormones. AgNO₃ was more effective in delaying senescence.