Homeostasis of polyamines and antioxidant systems in roots and leaves of Plantago major under salt stress

Functioning of the antioxidant system in roots and leaves of Plantago major L. in water culture at the stage of 5–6 genuine leaves of the plants subjected to NaCl (100 mM) action for 96 h was investigated. This plant exhibited a pronounced organ specificity of antioxidant defense system functioning. The roots were characterized by high constitutive activities of superoxide dismutase and three forms of peroxidase, and a lower catalase activity. Constitutive level of polyamines in roots was higher than in leaves. In both leaves and roots during first 24 h, the polyamine content declined but spermidine remained to be a predominant polyamine. The analysis of differential expression of the genes encoding enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis demonstrated certain differences in these plant organs. The changes in expression of genes MET1, SPMS1, and SPMS2 were observed in roots, whereas in leaves expression of MET1, SAMDC1, SPDS1, and SPMS1 was altered. These changes are possibly one of the mechanisms responsible for the regulation of polyamine endogenous level under salinity. In contrast to leaves, in roots, the oxidative degradation of spermidine by polyamine oxidase can take part in the regulation of endogenous spermidine level. Taken together, these findings allowed us to conclude that, unlike leaves, the roots of P. major under salinity conditions possessed a higher activity of the antioxidant system protecting plants from injurious action of oxidative stress, thereby providing survival of this plant species under stress conditions. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2009, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 359–368. This text was submitted by the authors in English.