Abstract
The influence of progressive soil drought (5 and 7 days) on photosynthetic CO2/H2O gas exchange, activities of ascorbate peroxidase (AscP) and glutathione reductase (GR), the contents of ascorbate (Asc), glutathione, soluble carbohydrates, proline, chlorophyll, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was investigated on leaves of maize seedlings (Zea mays L., cv. Troinaya sladost). Watering of plants destined for drought treatment was stopped on the 8th day after shoot emergence. On the first stage of drought (5 days) the activities of AscP, GR and the content of Asc, glutathione, MDA, and chlorophyll in leaves of drought-treated plants did not exhibit appreciable changes. The first plant response to water shortage consisted in the increased content of reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) and proline by 3.5 and 4.5 times, respectively. Despite insignificant decrease in transpiration, the photosynthetic CO2 exchange remained at the control level. After 7-day drought, the Asc content and AscP activity increased by a factor of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively, indicating the activation of the ascorbate/glutathione cycle. The content of glutathione and GR activity after 7-day drought remained unchanged. The content of reducing sugars doubled compared to control values, and the content of sucrose increased by a factor of 1.5. The proline content increased ninefold, whereas the content of chlorophyll and MDA remained unchanged. The photosynthetic rates decreased twofold, but the rate of dark respiration was unaffected. The results have shown that the drought-related recruitment of defense mechanisms follows a certain sequence. On the first stage of drought (5 days) the increase in carbohydrate and proline content ensured functioning of osmotic and antioxidant systems required for photosynthesis. On the second stage (7 days) the effectiveness of antioxidant systems increased notably, owing to the increase in AscP activity and the build-up of Asc, soluble carbohydrate, and proline content. Thus, the sequential mobilization of defense mechanisms in response to aggravating leaf water deficit sufficed to prevent oxidative stress.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- Asc:
-
ascorbate
- AscP:
-
ascorbate peroxidase
- GR:
-
glutathione reductase
- RWC:
-
relative water content
- SPS:
-
sucrose phosphate synthase
References
Smirnoff, N., The role of active oxygen in the response of plants to water deficit and dessication, New Phytol., 1993, vol. 125, pp. 27–58.
Reddy, A.R., Chaitanya, K.V., and Vivekanandan, M., Drought-induced responses of photosynthesis and antioxidant metabolism in higher plants, J. Plant Physiol., 2004, vol. 161, pp. 1189–1202.
Latowski, D., Surówka, E., and Strzalka, K., Regulatory role of components of ascorbate–glutathione pathway in plant stress tolerance, Ascorbate–Glutathione Pathway and Stress Tolerance in Plants, Anjum, N.A., Chan, M.T., and Umar, S., Eds., New York: Springer, 2010, pp. 1–53.
Hare, P.D., Cress, W.A., and van Staden, J., Dissecting the role of osmolyte accumulation during stress, Plant Cell Environ., 1998, vol. 21, pp. 535–553.
Kuznetsov, Vl.V. and Shevyakova, N.I., Proline under stress: biological role, metabolism, and regulation, Russ. J. Plant Physiol., 1999, vol. 46, pp. 274–288.
Krasensky, J. and Jonak, C., Drought, salt, and temperature stress-induced metabolic rearrangements and regulatory networks, J. Exp. Bot., 2012, vol. 63, pp. 1593–1608.
Sicher, R.C. and Barnaby, J.J., Impact of carbon dioxide enrichment on the responses of maize leaf transcripts and metabolites to water stress, Physiol. Plant., 2012, vol. 144, pp. 238–253.
Still, C.J., Berry, J.A., Collatz, G.J., and DeFries, R.S., Global distribution of C3 and C4 vegetation: carbon cycle implications, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 2003, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 6.1–6.14, doi 10.1029/2001GB001807
Lopes, M.S., Araus, J.L., van Heerden, P.D.R., and Foyer, C.H., Enhancing drought tolerance in C4 crops, J. Exp. Bot., 2011, vol. 62, pp. 3135–3153.
Maevskaya, S.N. and Nikolaeva, M.K., Response of antioxidant and osmoprotective systems of wheat seedlings, to drought and rehydration, Russ. J. Plant Physiol., 2013, vol. 60, pp. 343–350.
Lichtenthaler, H.K., Chlorophylls and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes, Methods Enzymol., 1987, vol. 148, pp. 350–382.
Voronin, P.Yu., Experimental installation for measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, CO2 exchange, and transpiration of a detached leaf, Russ. J. Plant Physiol., 2014, vol. 61, pp. 269–273.
Hsiao, T.C., Plant response to water stress, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol., 1973, vol. 24, pp. 519–570.
Alscher, R.G., Donahue, J.L., and Cramer, C.L., Reactive oxygen species and antioxidants; relationships in green cells, Physiol. Plant., 1997, vol. 100, pp. 224–233.
Noctor, G. and Foyer, C.H., Ascorbate and glutathione: keeping active oxygen under control, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol., 1998, vol. 49, pp. 249–279.
Benešová, M., Holá, D., Fisher, L., Jedelský, P.L., Hnilička, F., Wilhelmová, N., Rothová, O., Kočová, M., Prochacázková, D., Honnerová, J., Fridrichová, L., and Hniličková, H., The physiology and proteomics of drought tolerance in maize: early stomatal closure as a cause of lower tolerance to short-term dehydration?, PLoS ONE, 2012, vol. 7.
Chugh, V., Kaur, N., and Gupta, A.K., Evaluation of oxidative stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings in response to drought, Indian J. Biochem. Biophys., 2011, vol. 48, pp. 47–53.
Morgan, J.M., Osmoregulation and water stress in higher plants, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol., 1984, vol. 35, pp. 299–319.
Munns, R. and Wier, R., Contribution of sugar to osmotic adjustment in elongating and expanded zones of wheat leaves during moderate water deficits at two light levels, Aust. J. Plant Physiol., 1981, vol. 8, pp. 93–105.
Kameli, A. and Lösel, D.H., Contribution of carbohydrates and other solutes to osmotic adjustment in wheat leaves under water stress, J. Plant Physiol., 1995, vol. 145, p. 363.
Muhammadkhani, N. and Heidari, R., Droughtinduced accumulation of soluble sugars and proline in two maize varieties, World Appl. Sci. J., 2008, vol. 3, pp. 448–453.
Pelleschi, S., Rocher, J.-P., and Prioul, J.-L., Effect of water restriction on carbohydrate metabolism and photosynthesis in mature maize leaves, Plant Cell Environ., 1997, vol. 20, pp. 493–503.
Foyer, C.H., Valadier, M.H., Migge, A., and Becker, T.W., Drought-induced effects on nitrate reductase activity and RNA and on the coordination of nitrogen and carbon metabolism in maize leaves, Plant Physiol., 1998, vol. 117, pp. 283–292.
Anjum, S.A., Saleem, M.F., Wang, L.C., Bilal, M.F., and Saeed, A., Protective role of glycinbetaine in maize against drought-induced lipid peroxidation by enhancing capacity of antioxidative system, Aust. J. Crop Sci., 2012, vol. 6, pp. 576–583.
Sharma, S., Villamor, J.G., and Verslues, P.E., Essential role of tissue-specific proline synthesis and catabolism in growth and redox balance at low water potential, Plant Physiol., 2011, vol. 157, pp. 292–304.
Jabeen, F., Shahbaz, M., and Ashraf, M., Discriminating some prospective cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) for drought tolerance using gas exchange characteristics and proline contents as physiological marker, Pak. J. Bot., 2008, vol. 40, pp. 2329–2343.
Efeoğlu, B., Ekmekçi, Y., and Çiçec, N., Physiological response of three maize cultivars to drought stress, South Afr. J. Bot., 2009
Brown, P.S., Knievel, D.P., and Pell, E.J., Effects of moderate drought on ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of maize, Physiol. Plant., 1995, vol. 95, pp. 274–280.
Saccardy, K., Cornic, G., Brulfert, J., and Reyss, A., Effect of drought stress on net CO2 uptake by Zea leaves, Planta, 1996, vol. 199, pp. 589–595.
Atkin, O.K. and Macherel, D., The critical role of plant mitochondria in orchestrating drought tolerance, Ann. Bot., 2009, vol. 103, pp. 581–597.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nikolaeva, M.K., Maevskaya, S.N. & Voronin, P.Y. Activities of antioxidant and osmoprotective systems and photosynthetic gas exchange in maize seedlings under drought conditions. Russ J Plant Physiol 62, 314–321 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443715030139
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443715030139