Metabolism of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants under low temperature stress

Abstract

Low temperature is an environmental stress that affects crop production and quality and regulates the expression of many genes, and the level of a number of proteins and metabolites. Using leaves from pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants exposed to low temperature (8°C) for different time periods (1 to 3 d), several key components of the metabolism of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNS and ROS, respectively) were analysed. After 24 h of exposure at 8°C, pepper plants exhibited visible symptoms characterized by flaccidity of stems and leaves. This was accompanied by significant changes in the metabolism of RNS and ROS with an increase of both protein tyrosine nitration (NO2-Tyr) and lipid peroxidation, indicating that low temperature induces nitrosative and oxidative stress. During the second and third days at low temperature, pepper plants underwent cold acclimation by adjusting their antioxidant metabolism and reverting the observed nitrosative and oxidative stress. In this process, the levels of the soluble non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione, and the activity of the main NADPH-generating dehydrogenases were significantly induced. This suggests that ascorbate, glutathione and the NADPH-generating dehydrogenases have a role in the process of cold acclimation through their effect on the redox state of the cell.

Cloning and functional analysis of a novel ascorbate peroxidase (APX) gene from Anthurium andraeanum

“…Cold temperature will bring plants into an oxidative stress and it was shown that APX activity was up-regulated in plants such as rice (Oidaira et al, 2000), Coffea (Fortunato et al, 2010), haw (Eltelib et al, 2011), and pepper (Airaki et al, 2012) when subjected to low temperature. This is thought to be a normal defense reaction when plants are subjected to cold stress.…”

Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Tolerance against Low Temperature Stress in Brassica napus through Transcriptome Analysis

“…Low temperature stress induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals (Suzuki and Mittler, 2006;Farooq et al, 2009). These ROS may be signals inducing ROS scavengers and other protective mechanisms, as well as damaging agents contributing to stress injury in plants (Xiong et al, 2002;Airaki et al, 2012;Li et al, 2013;;Farooq et al, 2016)). Diverse plant species tolerate cold stress to a varying degree, which depends on reprogramming gene expression to modify their physiology, metabolism, and growth (Chinnusamy et al, 2010).…”

Production of reactive oxygen species in Dalbergia nigra seeds under thermal stress

“…Luo et al (2011) observed a continual increase in the formation of superoxide anion in strawberry leaves under low temperature up to 48 hours, decreasing after that. During acclimatization of Capsicum annum seedlings to low temperature, Airaki et al (2012) observed an increase in the level of the non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione and in the activity of the NADPH dehydrogenase.…”

“…Plants under abiotic stress conditions, such as drought, salinity, and high and low temperatures, produce reactive oxygen species (ROSs), as observed by Luo et al (2011), in which low temperature continually increased the formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in leaves of Fragaria ananassa Duch., Zoji and Toyonaka cultivars, up to 48 hours, decreasing after that. Airaki et al (2012) observed an increase in the level of the non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione and in the activity of the enzyme NADPH dehydrogenase during acclimatization of Capsicum annum L. plants, indicating the action of these substances in the cell antioxidant system. Even in storage under low temperature, there is production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, as observed by Pukacka and Ratajczak (2005) in Fagus sylvatica seeds stored at temperatures of 4, 20 and 30 ºC.…”