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Antioxidant responses and water status in Brassica seedlings subjected to boron stress

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Abstract

The effect of boron (B) on growth, water status and oxidative damage was investigated in the leaves and roots of 7-day-old seedlings of Brassica juncea var. Varuna. For this seedlings of Brassica were grown in solution culture with variable boron supply (0.033, 0.33, 3.3 and 33 mg B L−1) under controlled conditions in green house. Photosynthetic pigments were found to be decreased more under excess (3.3 and 33 mg B L–1) than deficient boron supply (0.033 mg B L–1) when compared to control (0.33 mg B L–1). Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content in both leaves and roots under deficient and excess boron supply suggested oxidative damage due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species. Increased activity of antioxidative enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase along with polyphenol oxidase was observed in leaves and roots under boron deficiency and excess than in control. Increased proline concentration, decreased total water content and water saturation deficit also indicated the water deficit condition in leaves and roots of boron-stressed Brassica seedlings.

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Abbreviations

CAT:

Catalase

DOPA:

3,4-Dihydroxy-1-phenol alanine

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

POD:

Peroxidase

PPO:

Polyphenol oxidase

RWC:

Relative water content

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

SWC:

Specific water content

TBA:

Thiobarbituric acid

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

WSD:

Water saturation deficit

WUC:

Water uptake capacity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Nutrition and Stress Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India

    Nalini Pandey &  Archana

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  1. Nalini Pandey
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  2. Archana
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Correspondence to Nalini Pandey.

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Communicated by G. Bartosz.

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Pandey, N., Archana Antioxidant responses and water status in Brassica seedlings subjected to boron stress. Acta Physiol Plant 35, 697–706 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1110-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1110-z

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