Alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities and proline content in pea leaves under long-term drought stress


Karatas I., Ozturk L., Demir Y., ÜNLÜKARA A., KURUNÇ A., Duzdemir O.

TOXICOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL HEALTH, vol.30, no.8, pp.693-700, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 30 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0748233712462471
  • Journal Name: TOXICOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL HEALTH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.693-700
  • Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes, pea, proline, water deficit, malondialdehyde, H2O2, MAMMALIAN SEX-HORMONES, GERMINATING MAIZE SEEDS, OXIDATIVE STRESS, SALT STRESS, SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE, TRANSGENIC PLANTS, PROTECTIVE ROLE, BETA-ESTRADIOL, SALICYLIC-ACID, PISUM-SATIVUM
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The effects of long-term drought stress on chlorophyll, proline, protein and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, malondialdehyde (MDA) in terms of lipid peroxidation and on the changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), catalase (CAT, EC 1.1 1.1.6) and peroxidase (POX; EC 1.11.1.7) in the leaves of pea (Pisum sativum L.) were studied in field conditions. Chlorophyll and protein contents in leaves decreased significantly with increased drought stress. The proline content increased markedly under water deficit. MDA amounts were elevated as a result of water shortage, whereas H2O2 content changed slightly in pea leaves exposed to drought stress. Drought stress markedly enhanced the activities of SOD, CAT and PDX but slightly changed the activity of APX. We conclude that in field conditions, long-term water shortage increased the susceptibility to drought in peas.