The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of enzyme induction and aerenchyma formation in prolonged tolerance to soil flooding in a variety of underground clover (Trifolium subterraneum 'Park') previously selected for resistance. Seedlings were grown in hydroponic tanks, initially with aeration for 3 weeks and subsequently in the absence of aeration for up to 3 weeks. After 1 h in the absence of aeration, the oxygen concentration in the hydroponic medium had decreased to 1.5 %. During the 3 weeks of extreme oxygen deficiency, primary roots died and were replaced by considerable numbers of adventitious roots. Activities of many glycolytic and fermentative enzymes increased in adventitious roots. Excised adventitious roots were capable of immediate induction of ethanol in the absence of lactate production, in association with energy charge higher than that in excised roots of aerobically maintained controls. Energy charge was even higher when measured in adventitious roots in planta. Interestingly, haemoglobin protein could be correlated with energy charge. Aerenchyma was readily visualized in adventitious roots by optical microscopy of longitudinal and transverse sections. We conclude that avoidance of root anoxia via aerenchyma is the major mechanism for prolonged root tolerance in Trifolium subterraneum 'Park'.
In this study, we examined the relevance of polyphenols in the response of sunflower plants to acute Cu and Cd stresses. More specifically, we aimed to correlate spatially and temporally the accumulation of polyphenols with the occurrence of oxidative stress, and to estimate their contribution to the antioxidant capacities. Under our experimental conditions, the presence of Cu and Cd (75 µmol·L–1) in the nutrient solution caused oxidative damage, as detected by the accumulation of malondialdehyde, in roots of Cu-treated plants and in leaves of Cd-treated plants; in the latter, significant inhibition of photosynthesis also occurred. These effects were in agreement with the preferential accumulation of Cu in the roots and the greater translocation of Cd to the shoots. This oxidative damage was associated with a concerted plant response, characterized by stimulation of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase activities, and by the accumulation of polyphenols whose concentrations were closely correlated (R2 = 0.95) to the total antioxidant capacity of plants extracts. Globally, the co-occurrence of oxidative damages and polyphenol accumulation, and the correlations among polyphenol concentrations, total antioxidant capacities, and stimulations of the peroxidases support the involvement of polyphenols in protection against oxidative damage generated by Cu and Cd in plants.
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