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Waterlogging induced oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in pigeonpea genotypes

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the role of antioxidant enzymes in waterlogging tolerance of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Halls) genotypes ICP 301 (tolerant) and Pusa 207 (susceptible). Waterlogging resulted in visible yellowing and senescence of leaves, decrease in leaf area, dry matter, relative water content and chlorophyll content in leaves, and membrane stability index in roots and leaves. The decline in all parameters was greater in Pusa 207 than ICP 301. Oxidative stress in the form of superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents initially decreased, however at 4 and 6 d of waterlogging it increased over control plants, probably due to activation of DPI-sensitive NADPH-oxidase. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase also increased under waterlogging. The comparatively greater antioxidant enzyme activities resulting in less oxidative stress in ICP 301 could be one of the factor determining its higher tolerance to flooding as compared to Pusa 207. This study is the first to conclusively prove that waterlogging induced increase in ROS is via NADPH oxidase.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

catalase

Chl:

chlorophyll

DAA:

days after anthesis

DPI:

diphenylene iodonium chloride

GR:

glutathione reductase

MSI:

membrane stability index

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

RWC:

relative water content

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TBARS:

thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Division of Plant Physiology, New Delhi, 110012, India

    D. Kumutha, K. Ezhilmathi, R. K. Sairam, G. C. Srivastava, P. S. Deshmukh & R. C. Meena

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  1. D. Kumutha
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  2. K. Ezhilmathi
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  3. R. K. Sairam
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  4. G. C. Srivastava
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  5. P. S. Deshmukh
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  6. R. C. Meena
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Correspondence to R. K. Sairam.

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Kumutha, D., Ezhilmathi, K., Sairam, R.K. et al. Waterlogging induced oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in pigeonpea genotypes. Biol Plant 53, 75–84 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-009-0011-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-009-0011-5

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