Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Amelioration of oxidative damage in Solanum melongena seedlings by 24-epibrassinolide during chilling stress and recovery

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The effects of foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) on chlorophyll content, oxidative damage, and antioxidant capacity in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings during a short-term chilling stress and subsequent recovery were investigated. The eggplant seedlings pretreated with 0.1 μM EBR were exposed to 5 °C for 12 h in the dark and then recovered under a normal temperature for another 12 h. The results show that EBR alleviated a chilling-induced oxidative stress reflected by a decrease in malondialdehyde and H2O2 content, O2 ·− production rate, and an increase in chlorophyll content and activities of superoxide dismutase, guaicol peroxidase, and catalase. The EBR pretreatment also promoted activities of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, as well as the accumulation of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) involved in the AsA-GSH cycle. Moreover, after the12 h recovery, EBR plus chilling treated leaves showed no significant changes in content of MDA and chlorophyll a, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and greater activities of AsA-GSH cycle enzymes than in seedlings only chilled. The results suggest that EBR alleviated an oxidative damage caused by the dark chilling stress and accelerated a recovery rate mainly through increasing the ROS scavenging system including the AsA-GSH cycle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

AsA:

ascorbate

BRs:

brassinosteroids

CAT:

catalase

Chl:

chlorophyll

DHAR:

dehydroascorbate reductase

EBR:

24-epibrassinolide

GR:

glutathione reductase

GSH:

reduced glutathione

MDA:

malondialdehyde

NBT:

nitroblue tetrazolium chloride

O2 ·− :

superoxide anion radical

POD:

peroxidase

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

References

  • Ahammed, G.J., Zhou, Y.H., Xia, X.J., Mao, W.H., Shi, K., Yu, J.Q.: Brassinosteroid regulates secondary metabolism in tomato towards enhanced tolerance to phenanthrene. — Biol. Plant. 57: 154–158, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arakawa, N., Tsutsumi, K., Sanceda, N.G., Kurata, T., Inagaki, C.: A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of ascorbic acid using 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline. — Agr. biol. Chem. 45: 1289–1290, 1981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bajguz, A., Hayat, S.: Effects of brassinosteroids on the plant responses to environmental stresses. — Plant Physiol. Biochem. 47: 1–8, 2009.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, L.S., Waldren, R.P., Teare, I.D.: Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies. — Plant Soil 39: 205–207, 1973.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caffagni, A., Pecchioni, N., Francia, E., Pagani, D., Milc, J.: Candidate gene expression profiling in two contrasting tomato cultivars under chilling stress. — Biol. Plant. 58: 283–295, 2014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chinnusamy, V., Zhu, J., Zhu, J.K.: Gene regulation during cold acclimation in plants. — Physiol. Plant. 126: 52–61, 2006.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding H.D., Zhu X.H., Zhu Z.W., Yang S.J., Zha D.S., Wu X.X.: Amelioration of salt-induced oxidative stress in Solanum melongena L. by application of 24-epibrassinolide. — Biol. Plant. 56: 767–770, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durner, J., Klessing, D.F.: Salicylic acid is a modulator of tobacco and mammalian catalases. — J. biol. Chem. 271: 28492–28502, 1996.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fariduddin, Q., Yusuf, M., Ahmad, I.: Brassinosteroids and their role in response of plants to abiotic stresses. — Biol. Plant. 58: 9–17, 2014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fariduddin, Q., Yusuf, M., Chalkoo, S., Hayat, S., Ahmad, A.: 28-homobrassinolide improves growth and photosynthesis in Cucumis sativus L. through an enhanced antioxidant system in the presence of chilling stress. — Photosynthetica 49: 55–64, 2011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foyer, C.H., Halliwell, B.: Presence of glutathione and glutathione reductase in chloroplasts: a proposed role in ascorbic acid metabolism. — Planta 133: 21–25, 1976.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foyer, C.H., Noctor, G.: Redox homeostasis and antioxidant signaling: a metabolic interface between stress perception and physiological responses. — Plant Cell. 17: 1866–1875, 2005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foyer, C.H., Vanacker, H., Gomez, L.D., Harbinson, J.: Regulation of photosynthesis and antioxidant metabolism in maize leaves at optimal and chilling temperatures: a review. — Plant Physiol. Biochem. 40: 659–668, 2002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garstka, M., Venema, J.H., Rumak, I., Gieczewska, K., Rosiak, M., Kozioł-Lipińska, J., Kierdaszuk, B., Vredenberg, W.J., Mostowska, A.: Contrasting effect of dark-chilling on chloroplast structure and arrangement of chlorophyll-protein complexes in pea and tomato plants with a different susceptibility to non-freezing temperature. — Planta 226: 1165–1181, 2007.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genisel, M., Turk, H., Erdal, S.: Exogenous progesterone application protects chickpea seedlings against chilling-induced oxidative stress. — Acta Physiol. Plant. 35: 241–251, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giannopolitis, C.N., Ries, S.K.: Superoxide dismutases. I. Occurrence in higher plants. — Plant Physiol. 59: 309–314, 1977.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, O.W.: Determination of glutathione and glutathione disulphide using glutathione reductase and 2-vinylpyridine. — Anal. Biochem. 106: 207–212, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammerschmidt, R., Nuckles, E.M., Kuc, J.: Association of enhanced peroxidase activity with induced systemic resistance of cucumber to Colletotrichum lagenarium. — Physiol. Plant Pathol. 20: 73–82, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain, M.A., Nakano, Y., Asada, K.: Monodehydroascorbate reductase in spinach chloroplasts and its participation in the regeneration of ascorbate for scavenging hydrogen peroxide. — Plant Cell Physiol. 25: 385–395, 1984.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, W.H., Wu, Y., Zeng, J.Z., He, L., Zeng, Q.M.: Chill-induced inhibition of photosynthesis was alleviated by 24- epibrassinolide pretreatment in cucumber during chilling and subsequent recovery. — Photosynthetica 48: 537–544, 2010.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, M.M., S.O. Bafeel.: Photosynthetic efficiency and pigment content in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedlings subjected to dark and chilling conditions. — Int. J. agr. Biol. 10: 306–310, 2008.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, M.Y., Zhang, J.H.: Effect of abscisic acid on active oxygen species, antioxidative defence system and oxidative damage in leaves of maize seedlings. — Plant Cell Physiol. 42: 1265–1273, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y.P., Huang, L.F., Cheng, F., Zhou, Y.H., Xia, X.J., Mao, W.H., Shi, K., Yu, J.Q.: Brassinosteroids accelerate recovery of photosynthetic apparatus from cold stress by balancing the electron partitioning, carboxylation and redox homeostasis in cucumber. — Physiol. Plant. 148: 133–145, 2013

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jun S.S., Kim J.M., Lee C.B.: A comparative study on the effect of chilling treatment in the light and in the dark on subsequent photosynthesis in cucumber. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol., 28: 489–496, 2001.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, G., Le, G., Liu, G., Xu, W., Peng, X., Wang, C., Zhu, Y., Guo, T.: Exogenous salicylic acid enhances wheat drought tolerance by influence on the expression of genes related to ascorbate-glutathione cycle. — Biol. Plant. 57: 718–724, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kartal, G., Temel, A., Arican, E., Gozukirmizi, N.: Effects of brassinosteroids on barley root growth, antioxidant system and cell division. — Plant Growth Regul. 58: 261–267, 2009.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, L.L., Tibbits, T.W., Edwards, G.E.: Measurements of ozone injury by determination of leaf chlorophyll concentration. — Plant Physiol. 60: 606–608, 1977.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Zhao, Z., Si, J., Di, C., Han, J., An, L.: Brassinosteriods alleviate chilling induced oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidant defense system in suspension cultured cells of Chorispora bungeana. — Plant Growth Regul. 59: 207–214, 2009.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y.H., Liu, Y.J., Xu, X.L., Jin, M., An, L.Z., Zhang, H.: Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on drought stress-induced changes in Chorispora bungeana. — Biol. Plant. 56: 192–196, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittler, R.: Oxidative stress antioxideants and stress tolerance. — Trends Plant Sci. 7: 405–410, 2002.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, Y., Asada, K.: Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidase in spinach chloroplasts. — Plant Cell Physiol. 22: 867–880, 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson B,D., Mackae, E.A., Mackae, I.: Estimation of hydrogen peroxide in plants extracts using titanium (IV). — Anal Biochem. 139: 487–492, 1984.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishna, B., Rao, S.S.R.: 24-Epibrassinolide alleviated zinc-induced oxidative stress in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings by enhancing antioxidative system. — Plant Growth Regul. 68: 249–259, 2012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishna, B., Rao, S.S.R.: 24-Epibrassinolide maintains elevated redox state of AsA and GSH in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings under zinc stress. — Acta Physiol. Plant. 35: 1291–1302, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, I., Kumar, U., Singh, S.K., Gupta, C., Singh, M., Kushwaha, S.R.: Physiological and biochemical effect of 24-epibrassinoslide on cold tolerance in maize seedlings. — Physiol. mol. Biol. Plants 18: 229–236, 2012.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soares-Cordeiro, A.S., Driscoll, S.P., Arrabaca, M.C., Foyer, C.H.: Dorsoventral variations in dark chilling effects on photosynthesis and stomatal function in Paspalum dilatatum leaves. — J. exp. Bot. 62: 687–699, 2010.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Theocharis, A., Clement, C., Barka, E.A.: Physiological and molecular changes in plants grown at low temperatures. — Planta 235: 1091–1105, 2012.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, X.X., He, J., Zhu, Z.W., Yang, S.J., Zha, D.S.: Protection of photosynthesis and antioxidative system by 24-epibrassinolide in Solanum melongena under cold stress. — Biol. Plant. 58: 185–188, 2014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xi, Z.M., Wang, Z.Z., Fang, Y.L., Hu, Z.Y., Hu, Y., Deng, M.M., Zhang, Z.W..: Effects of 24-epibrassinolide on antioxidation defense and osmoregulation systems of young grapevines (V. vinifera L.) under chilling stress. — Plant Growth Regul. 71: 57–65, 2013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xia, X.J., Wang, Y.J., Zhou, Y.H., Tao, Y., Mao, W.H., Shi, K., Asami, T., Chen, Z., Yu, J.Q.: Reactive oxygen species are involved in brassinosteroids-induced stress tolerance in Cucumis sativus. — Plant Physiol. 150: 801–814, 2009.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y.P., He, J., Yang, S.J, Chen, Y.Y.: Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide ameliorates high temperature-induced inhibition of growth and photosynthesis in Cucumis melo. — Biol Plant 58: 311–318, 2014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao. L., He, J.X., Wang, X.M., Zhang, L.X.: Nitric oxide protects against polyethyleneglycol-induced oxidative damage in two ecotypes of reed suspension cultures. — J. Plant Physiol. 165: 182–191, 2008.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Horticultural Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, P.R. China

    X. X. Wu & D. S. Zha

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Shanghai, 201106, P.R. China

    X. X. Wu, Z. W. Zhu & D. S. Zha

  3. College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China

    H. D. Ding

  4. Agricultural Information Institute of Science and Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201403, P.R. China

    J. L. Chen

Authors
  1. X. X. Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. D. Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. L. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Z. W. Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. S. Zha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. S. Zha.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31101092), the National Key Technology R&D Program during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2012BAD02B02), the China Research System (CARS-25), the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology (123919N0200), the open fund of Shanghai Key Lab of Protected Horticultural Technology, and the Shanghai Seed Industry Development Project (2013–5).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, X.X., Ding, H.D., Chen, J.L. et al. Amelioration of oxidative damage in Solanum melongena seedlings by 24-epibrassinolide during chilling stress and recovery. Biol Plant 59, 350–356 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-015-0495-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-015-0495-0

Additional key words

Search

Navigation