Influence of Root Oxygen Deficiency on Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Status in Barley Plants1

Roots of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Alfa) were subjected to hypoxia for 120 h. By 72 to 120 h of soil flooding, a noticeable decrease in the rate of CO₂ assimilation and transpiration was observed. A drop in the activities of Rubisco and photorespiratory enzymes was found. We examined the changes in the activities of enzymes involved in the antioxidative system and stress markers related to membrane integrity, namely, lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Catalase and peroxidase activities were increased during the experiment, whereas superoxide dismutase activity drastically decreased.