Changes in activity of antioxidative enzymes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedlings under cold acclimation

Abstract

Activated oxygen species such as superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals can be produced in plants exposed to low, non‐freezing, non‐injurious temperatures. To prevent or alleviate oxidative injury, plants have evolved several mechanisms which include scavenging by natural antioxidants and enzymatic antioxidant systems such as superoxide dismutases, catalase and peroxidases. Although overproduction of hydrogen peroxide and increased tolerance to oxidative stress can be induced in wheat by low‐temperature treatments, data concerning changes in the enzymatic antioxidant systems are almost absent. With the aim to provide this information, antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutases, catalase and peroxidases) activities were analysed in leaves and roots of Triticum aestivum cvs Brasilia (frost resistant in field) and Eridano (less frost resistant in field) seedlings grown at day/night temperatures of 24/22°C (control treatment) and 12/5°C (low‐temperature treatment). Our data showed that superoxide dismutase activities were unaffected by low‐temperature treatment both in leaves and roots. Catalase activity in leaves and roots was decreased in 12/5°C‐grown seedlings, but Brasilia maintained higher catalase activity than Eridano. Differences were also observed in guaiacol peroxidase activities between control and acclimated seedlings: Higher guaiacol peroxidase activities were found in the leaves of 12/5°C‐grown seedlings while in roots these activities were lower. Moreover, Brasilia guaiacol peroxidase activities were higher than Eridano. Superoxide dismutase and peroxidase zymogram analyses showed that synthesis of new isoforms was not induced by low‐temperature treatment. Changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes induced by cold acclimation support the hypothesis that a frost‐resistant wheat cultivar, in comparison with a less frost‐resistant one, maintains a better defence against activated oxygen species during low‐temperature treatment.

Antioxidant activity and ROS tolerance in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.) anthers affect the efficiency of microspore embryogenesis

“…in rice, maize (Alscher et al 2002) or barley cultivars (Kayihan et al 2012). Similar to our study, new isoforms of SOD were not detected in cold acclimated wheat seedlings, either (Scebba et al 1998). …”

Effect of drought on biomass, protein content, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in two sesame cultivars

“…To prevent or alleviate injuries from ROS, plants have evolved an antioxidant defence system that includes non-enzymic compounds like ascorbate, gluthatione, tocopherol, carotenoids, flavonoids and enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), gluthatione reductase (GR) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) (Agarwal and Pandey 2004, Núñez et al 2003/4, Sergi and Alegre 2003. Co-operation among these enzymes is essential for the effective protection from ROS (Scebba et al 1998).…”

Induction of Oxidative Stress by Sunflower Phytotoxins in Germinating Mustard Seeds

“…Although the role of the antioxidant system in plants in response to environmental stresses has received attention (Bowler et al, 1992;Scebba et al, 1998;Yu et al, 2003;Foyer and Noctor, 2005), our understanding about its putative involvement in response to phytotoxic agents is so far not well documented. The scavenging of the superoxide radical O ÁÀ 2 À Á is achieved through an upstream enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), which catalyses the dismutation of O ÁÀ 2 À Á to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and plays a role in protecting cells against the toxic effects of those radicals produced in different cellular compartments (del Rio et al, 2002).…”