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Flooding-induced membrane damage, lipid oxidation and activated oxygen generation in corn leaves

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Abstract

Flooding effects on membrane permeability, lipid peroxidation and activated oxygen metabolism in corn (Zea mays L.) leaves were investigated to determine if activated oxygens are involved in corn flooding-injury. Potted corn plants were flooded at the 4-leaf stage in a controlled environment. A 7-day flooding treatment resulted in a significant increase in chlorophyll breakdown, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehye content), membrane permeability, and the production of superoxide (O -2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in corn leaves. The effects were much greater in older leaves than in younger ones. Spraying leaves with 8-hydroxyquinoline (an O -2 scavenger) and sodium benzoate (an .OH scavenger) reduced the oxidative damage and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. A short duration flooding treatment elevated the activities of SOD, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase (AP), and glutathione reductase (GR), while further flooding significantly reduced the enzyme activities but enhanced the concentrations of ascorbic acid and reduced form glutathione (GSH). It was noted that the decline in SOD activity was greater than that in H2O2 scavengers (AP and GR). The results suggested that O -2 induced lipid peroxidation and membrane damage, and that excessive accumulation of O -2 is due to the reduced activity of SOD under flooding stress.

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Abbreviations

AP:

ascorbate peroxidase

ASA:

ascorbic acid

CAT:

catalase

DDTT:

sodium diethyldithiocarbamate

H2O2 :

hydrogen peroxide

8-HQ-8:

hydroxyquinoline

GR:

glutathione reductase

GSH:

reduced form glutathione

MDA:

malondialdehye

O -2 :

superoxide

.OH:

hydroxyl radical

SB:

sodium benzoate

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

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Author notes

  1. Qiujie Dai

    Present address: International Rich Research Institute, P.O. Box 933, 1099, Manila, Philippines

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Agrobiological Genetics and Physiology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 210014, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China

    Bin Yan, Qiujie Dai, Xiaozhong Liu, Shaobai Huang & Zixia Wang

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  1. Bin Yan
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  2. Qiujie Dai
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  3. Xiaozhong Liu
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  4. Shaobai Huang
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  5. Zixia Wang
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Yan, B., Dai, Q., Liu, X. et al. Flooding-induced membrane damage, lipid oxidation and activated oxygen generation in corn leaves. Plant Soil 179, 261–268 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009336

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009336

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