Effects of long-term salt stress on antioxidant defence systems, leaf water relations and chloroplast ultrastructure of potato plants

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2004

Authors

Fidalgo, F (Author) FCUP; Santos, A (Author) FCUP; Santos, I (Author) Other; Salema, R (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Annals of Applied Biology

Vol. 145

Pages: 185-192

ISSN: 0003-4746

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 85 Citations

Scopus - 102 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Other Agrarian Sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-C92

DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2004.tb00374.x

Abstract (EN): The effect of long-term (30 days) NaCl treatments (100 mm and 200 mm) on the activity of some antioxidant enzymes, level of antioxidant metabolites, water relations and chloroplast ultrastructure, was studied in potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Desiree) leaves. Salt stress negatively affected relative water content, leaf stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. In treated plants, proline was enhanced, but there was a significant decrease in ascorbate and proteins. Total superoxide dismutase activity was increased. The isozyme patterns detected in native gels from salt-irrigated plants were not changed although all the isoforms appeared more heavily stained due to higher activity. In contrast, at both levels of NaCl, catalase activity decreased and ascorbate peroxidase activity showed no significant change in comparison with an untreated control. At ultrastructural level, only thylakoid swelling and a decrease in the amount of grana stacking was observed in treated plants. The overall behaviour of the antioxidant enzymes suggests an increase of cellular H2O2 that would contribute to the oxidative stress of potato plants, but which may be alleviated somewhat by the enhanced levels of proline.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8