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Changes in activities of antioxidative system and monoterpene and photochemical efficiency during seasonal leaf senescence in Hevea brasiliensis trees

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Abstract

A variety of ecophysiological parameters were monitored in leaves of Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree) during seasonal leaf senescence. Higher levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, and lower content of total protein and efficiency of photochemistry of photosystem II (PSII) were observed in the senescent leaves (SL) compared to the mature leaves (ML). A significant decrease in the contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) in SL was also observed, but with increase in ratio of Car/Chl. Moreover, activities of superoxide dismutases, catalase, and glutathione reductase in SL were strongly suppressed. In contrast, the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and the contents of reduced ascorbate, total ascorbate, reduced glutathione and total glutathione were considerably increased in SL compared to ML. In addition, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene and total monoterpene pool in SL were drastically decreased. Taken together, these results indicate that the enhanced activities of POD and APX, and further activation of ascorbate-glutathione cycle conferred an important photoprotection against oxidative stress in senescent leaves of rubber trees. The increased Car/Chl could give the protection against photoxidation as well.

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Abbreviations

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

Chl:

Chlorophyll

Car:

Carotenoids

PSII:

Photosystem II

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1)

CAT:

Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6)

GR:

Glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2)

POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7)

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11)

AsA:

Reduced ascorbate

DHA:

Oxidized ascorbate

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

GSSG:

Oxidized glutathione

F v/F m :

Maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII

ΔF/F m′:

Actual photochemical efficiency of PSII

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

TBA:

Thiobarbituric acid

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Science Foundation of China (project no. 90302013). We are grateful to our colleagues Jiao-lin Zhang and Jun-jie Zhu for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, People’s Republic of China

    Jun-Wen Chen & Kun-Fang Cao

  2. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People’s Republic of China

    Jun-Wen Chen

Authors
  1. Jun-Wen Chen
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  2. Kun-Fang Cao
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Correspondence to Kun-Fang Cao.

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Communicated by M. Filek.

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Chen, JW., Cao, KF. Changes in activities of antioxidative system and monoterpene and photochemical efficiency during seasonal leaf senescence in Hevea brasiliensis trees. Acta Physiol Plant 30, 1–9 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-007-0070-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-007-0070-1

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