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Comparative changes in the antioxidant system in the flag leaf of early and normally senescing near-isogenic lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

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Abstract

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The antioxidant system was significantly inhibited in the early aging line than the near-isogenic normal aging line during senescence.

Abstract

The antioxidant system plays pivotal roles in removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during leaf senescence. To explore its roles in leaf senescence of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the concentrations of antioxidants, activities, and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes were evaluated in flag leaves of the early aging line (EAL) and the near-isogenic normal aging line (NL) during senescence. The results showed that the total chlorophyll and soluble protein in the EAL declined earlier and faster, while more malondialdehyde and ROS accumulated compared with the NL. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase were lower in the EAL than in the NL across multiple measuring dates. Additionally, the EAL had less amounts of reduced ascorbate and glutathione as well as lower reduction state with the progression of senescence. Concomitantly, the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in the EAL was also significantly repressed relative to those in the NL during natural senescence. Taken together, the earlier onset and faster rate of senescence in the EAL could be a result of an imbalance of ROS production and ROS-scavenging antioxidant system, which provided valuable hints toward understanding leaf senescence of wheat.

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Abbreviations

NILs:

Near-isogenic lines

EAL:

Early aging line

NL:

Normal aging line

DAE:

Days after full expansion of flag leaf

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

Chl:

Total chlorophyll

SP:

Soluble protein

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase

AsA + DHA:

Total ascorbate

AsA:

Reduced ascorbate

DHA:

Oxidized ascorbate

GSH + GSSG:

Total glutathione

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

GSSG:

Oxidized glutathione

MDAR:

Monodehydroascorbate reductase

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase

GR:

Glutathione reductase

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (31371609, 30800683), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA08010403), and the National Key Basic Research Program (No. 2009CB118506).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 West Beichen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

    Hongwei Li, Gui Wang, Qiang An, Qi Zheng, Bin Li & Zhensheng Li

  2. College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    Gui Wang, Shudong Liu & Qiang An

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  1. Hongwei Li
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  2. Gui Wang
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  3. Shudong Liu
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  4. Qiang An
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  6. Bin Li
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  7. Zhensheng Li
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Correspondence to Zhensheng Li.

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Communicated by M. Jordan.

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Li, H., Wang, G., Liu, S. et al. Comparative changes in the antioxidant system in the flag leaf of early and normally senescing near-isogenic lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Cell Rep 33, 1109–1120 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-014-1600-0

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