IntroductionProper growth and development of plants depends on an efficient defense system, mainly against reactive oxygen species. Studies on how plant genotypes respond to all kind of stresses indicate a similar mechanism of adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions. These reactions are mostly connected with neutralizing free radicals, particularly reactive oxygen species (ROS) which frequently appear as the effect of different stress factors [1][2][3]. Many experiments indicate significance changes in the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant system during environmental stresses in plant tissues. The most active in this respect are usually the classified enzymes: catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as chemical compounds such as glutathione, ascorbic acid or different polyphenols [4,5]. It is well established that the mechanisms of tolerance to chilling, freezing, drought or high salinity include the action of common genes. For this reason chilling transplants before planting might result in a better adaptation of plants cultivated from such transplants to various stresses via a well-defined increase in the antioxidant activity system in particular plant organs [6,7]. In recently carried out investigations that were focused on the reaction of wild species or cultivated plant cultivars to abiotic stresses, only early vegetative stages of development in the studied genotypes were applied [7,8]. Moreover, these experiments were mainly carried out in strictly controlled conditions. As a rule, neither the natural environment of plant growth nor the stage of full generative development was considered.The Brassica oleracea L. var. italica that was used in the presented experiment is a vegetable of great economical value, and in Europe it is grown on a large scale that could be compared to that of the cauliflower. Broccoli flower buds contain an elevated level of health-promoting substances, which are active during the neutralization of free radicals [9,10]. A crucial example of such is glutathione, a non-enzymatic hydrophilic antioxidant that commonly occurs in plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family. This thiol compound is an important substrate of the enzymatic defense system in the cytoplasm and in the chloroplasts of plant cells. Because of its anticarcinogenic functions it is very important in the human diet. In some cultivars of broccoli the glutathione content may exceed 200 nmol g −1 of fresh weight [11]. The cultivar italica of B. oleracea can optionally be planted from transplanted seedlings in spring, summer or autumn, but this practice sometimes requires storage of the transplant material. The storage may be necessary because of unfavorable weather conditions. For that reason offering an efficient way
AbstractThe study was designed to determine the possible relationship between Brassica oleracea var. italica seedlings stored at 2°C in the dark for seven and fourteen days, respectively, and the level of certain antioxidant parameters in particular organs. ...