Defence responses in leaves of resistant and susceptible pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars infected with different inoculum concentrations of Phytophthora capsici Leon

Three pepper cultivars (PM-702: resistant, Demre-8 and KM-hot: susceptible) with different resistances to Phytophthora capsici-22 (P. capsici-22) were inoculated with different concentrations of zoospores to analyze the time course of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), proline and total protein.     

Hydrogen peroxide pretreatment alters the activity of antioxidant enzymes and protects chloroplast ultrastructure in heat-stressed cucumber leaves

To elucidate the physiological mechanism of heat stress mitigated by exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) further, seedlings of Cucumis sativus cv Lvfeng no. 6 were subjected to two temperatures (42/38 and 25/18 °C) after pretreatment with 1.5 mM H₂O₂. We investigated whether exogenous H₂O₂ could protect chloroplast ultrastructure under heat stress (42/38 °C) and whether the protective effect was associated with the regulation of antioxidant enzymes. The heat condition disintegrated the membranes of 71.4% chloroplasts in the leaf cells and resulted in the elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and endogenous H₂O₂. When H₂O₂ pretreatment was combined with the heat stress, the abnormal chloroplasts occurred at a rate of 33.3%, and the contents of MDA and endogenous H₂O₂ were decreased. Heat stress and exogenous H₂O₂ both increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.1.9), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), monodehydroascorbate reducatase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2). The combined effect of heat stress and H₂O₂ pretreatment led to higher activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), GSH-Px, DHAR, MDHAR and GR in comparison to the heat treatment alone. We propose that exogenous H₂O₂ increases antioxidant enzyme activities in cucumber leaves, decreases lipid peroxidation, and thus protects the ultrastructure of chloroplasts under heat stress.     

外源草酸对冷藏绿竹笋的保鲜效果及其生理基础

 绿竹笋（Dendrocalamopsis oldhami）采后分别置于水和5 mmol · L^-1 草酸溶液中浸泡10 min, 晾干后在（4 ± 0.5）℃条件下贮藏。结果发现草酸处理抑制了竹笋切面的褐变,延缓了笋肉木质纤维化。 草酸处理降低了脂氧合酶（LOX）、多酚氧化酶（PPO）、过氧化物酶（POD）和苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL） 活性,提高了超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性,并降低了过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量。     

不同品种菊芋总酚含量、PPO活性、POD活性及其与褐变的关系

对5个菊芋品种的总酚含量、PPO活性、POD活性与褐变强度进行了测定。结果表明：不同菊芋品种的总酚含量、PPO活性、POD活性与褐变强度差异显著,其中3个北方品种的各项指标均高于2个南方品种。相关性分析显示,4个外形呈不规则瘤形品种的PPO活性与褐变强度之间呈显著正相关,相关系数r=0.982。褐变主成分分析表明：PPO活性、POD活性和总酚含量这3个变量共同影响菊芋的褐变。     

Pre- and post-harvest salicylic acid treatments alleviate internal browning and maintain quality of winter pineapple fruit

The post-harvest internal browning (IB) and quality in pineapple (Ananas comosus L. ‘Comte de Paris’) fruit were studied in relation to pre-harvest salicylic acid (SA) spray (PSS) or/and post-harvest salicylic acid immersion (PSI) treatments at 10 °C for up to 20 days plus 2 days at 20 °C (shelf-life). In addition, the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were measured during cold storage. The results showed that all SA treatments significantly reduced IB incidence and intensity. Furthermore, SA did not affect soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and total phenolics (TP) content, but delayed the decline of ascorbic acid (AsA) content. At the same time, SA significantly inhibited PPO and PAL activities. The study indicated the beneficial effect of SA by pre-harvest spray and/or post-harvest immersion on pineapple fruit quality and resistance to IB, and PSS + PSI treatment showed the best effect.     

Antioxidant capacity is correlated with susceptibility to leaf spot caused by a rapid temperature drop in Saintpaulia (African violet)

The relationship between the susceptibility to rapid temperature drop induced leaf injury, i.e. “leaf spot”, and the antioxidant capacities of several Saintpaulia (African violet) cultivars was examined. Cultivars ‘Ritali’ and ‘Tamiko’, that are more susceptible to leaf spot caused by a rapid drop in leaf temperature from 30 to 15°C than are cultivars ‘Maui’ and ‘New Jersey’. The susceptible cultivars were also more susceptible to oxidative stress caused by H₂O₂ and active chlorine than the tolerant cultivars. Reduction of available chlorine, considered to be accelerated by antioxidants of leaf tissue, was rapid in ‘Maui’ and ‘New Jersey’. Activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were higher in the leaves of ‘Maui’ and ‘New Jersey’ than in the susceptible cultivars. These findings show a correlation between leaf spot injury and antioxidant capacity in Saintpaulia leaves.     

Calcium and magnesium interactions in browning of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples with bitter pit

The role of Ca and Mg in the enzymatic browning of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples was explored. Enzymatic browning due to polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was stimulated with the addition of 0.8–10 mM MgCl₂ to the reaction mixture, whereas 0.8–10 mM CaCl₂ had little effect or decreased the rate of enzymatic browning. Within a week after vacuum infiltration with MgCl₂, treated fruits exhibited browning symptoms that were similar to bitter pit. Six months after vacuum infiltration, when analyzed for enzyme activity, MgCl₂-treated fruits exhibited higher rates of PPO activity, whereas CaCl₂-treated fruits had lower activity than the MgCl₂-treated fruits and the controls. A hypothesis is advanced that the initial visible symptoms of bitter pit, i.e. the localized browning, is caused by PPO, its activity being stimulated by the localized Mg/Ca imbalance present in the tissue. The results indicate that Ca is predominant in the prevention of this disorder, whereas a deficiency of Ca is involved in its induction.     

南方根结线虫侵染对茄子砧木幼苗根系活性氧代谢及相关酶活性的影响

以对南方根结线虫抗性水平显著不同的两个茄子砧木为试材,研究了接种南方根结线虫对幼苗根系活性氧代谢及相关酶活性的影响。结果表明,抗病品种托鲁巴姆幼苗根系超氧阴离子（O2-·）生成速率、过氧化氢(H2O2)含量及超氧化物岐化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、几丁质酶（CHT）和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶（GLU）活性显著高于易感品种赤茄,而过氧化物酶（POD）活性则低于赤茄。南方根结线虫初次侵染前期,两个砧木幼苗根系O2-·生成速率、H2O2含量及CHT和GLU活性均迅速升高,托鲁巴姆升幅显著高于赤茄,初次侵染后期均降低;二次侵染前期又升高,但升幅较初次减小。幼苗根系SOD、CAT活性在南方根结线虫侵染前期较未接种的对照显著降低,且托鲁巴姆降幅显著大于赤茄,侵染后期则均有所增强;而POD活性变化则相反。南方根结线虫侵染还导致根系丙二醛（MDA）含量持续增加,但以赤茄较高,表明南方根结线虫侵染加剧了根系特别是易感品种根系的膜脂过氧化程度。     

Ascorbate levels and the activity of key enzymes in ascorbate biosynthesis and recycling in the leaves of 22 Chinese persimmon cultivars

The objective of this study was to determine diversities of ascorbic acid (AsA) and activities of enzymes involved in AsA metabolism, and to determine their relationships to AsA content in the leaves of Chinese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) cultivars. Results showed that there were huge differences not only in the contents of AsA and glutathione (GSH) but also in the enzyme activities of l-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH, EC 1.3.2.3), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) in the leaves of 22 Chinese persimmon cultivars. Control of AsA levels mainly depended on the capacity for biosynthesis and GLDH activity played a main role in determining AsA levels in the leaves of persimmon. Both MDHAR and DHAR, MDHAR in particular, also played an important role in maintaining AsA redox state by reducing oxidized AsA back to AsA. But contents of GSH and hydrogen peroide (H₂O₂) and activity of APX were not significantly correlated with AsA content in the leaves of persimmon.     

外源硅对锈病菌胁迫下长豇豆幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

 以长豇豆高抗锈病品种‘ZN016’和感病品种‘之豇282’为材料，采用基质栽培，研究了外源硅(Si)处理对锈病菌胁迫下幼苗活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明，与不加Si处理植株相比，外源Si能提高锈病菌胁迫下两品种幼苗叶片POD、CAT和SOD活性，降低O₂^-· 产生速率和H₂O₂、MDA含量，提高感病品种叶片中酚类物质、GSH及AsA含量。在无病原菌侵入时,Si对上述参数影响不一。Si可显著降低感病品种的锈病病情指数，相对防效达31.7%，表明外源Si可通过提高锈菌胁迫下植株体内抗氧化酶活性，降低ROS水平，提高幼苗对锈病的抗性。     

Growing season and hydrogen peroxide effects on root induction and development in Olea europaea L. (cvs ‘Frantoio’ and ‘Gentile di Larino’) cuttings

Semi-hardwood cuttings of ‘Frantoio’ (high rooting ability) and ‘Gentile di Larino’ (low rooting ability) cultivars were obtained from 1-year-old olive shoots sampled in mid-August during the 2000 and 2001 growing season. Semi-hardwood cuttings were dipped in IBA 4000 ppm and H₂O₂ (0%-control or 3.5% w/v) solutions before rooting in greenhouse equipped with an automatic mist system. At 57 and 88 days after the beginning of rooting treatments cuttings were scored for the presence of callus, roots and roots number. In both cultivars and years, the IBA 4000+H₂O₂ treatment significantly modified rooting of cuttings at 57 days in comparison with IBA 4000 treatment. The positive effects of H₂O₂ on rooting were gradually smoothed after 88 days. At the end of the propagation cycle (88th days), cuttings treated with IBA 4000+H₂O₂ had significantly higher root number in comparison with those treated with IBA 4000 alone.     

Apoplastic anti-oxidants in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit and their relationship to blossom-end rot

Summary

The aim of the present research was to study changes in the major anti-oxidative enzyme activities known to be associated with the apoplast, during the induction of blossom-end rot (BER) in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits grown under saline conditions. Pepper plants of the BER-sensitive cv. ‘Mazurka’ and less-sensitive cv. ‘Selica’ were grown under control, low- and high-salinity irrigation regimes. Fruits were harvested continuously and, after approx. 7 months under these conditions, BER symptoms started to appear (in the Spring season) and fruits were sampled for biochemical measurements. The intercellular washing fluid (IWF; apoplast fraction) of the fruit pericarp was prepared and enzyme activities in that fraction were determined. The results showed that production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the fruit apoplast was higher in ‘Mazurka’ than in ‘Selica’. Apoplastic peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and the concentration of ascorbic acid, increased during ‘Selica’ fruit development, whereas the concentration of H₂O₂ decreased. During the stage of rapid growth, when fruits are most susceptible to BER, apoplastic peroxidase activity was greatly enhanced in the healthy pericarp of BER-affected fruits compared to healthy fruits. Under saline conditions, apoplastic peroxidase and SOD activities, as well as ascorbic acid and H₂O₂ levels, increased in healthy fruits of the resistant cultivar ‘Selica’; whereas, in healthy fruit of the BER-sensitive cultivar ‘Mazurka’, apoplastic peroxidase activity decreased while the level of ascorbic acid increased, but to a much lesser extent than in ‘Selica’. SOD activity and H₂O₂ levels increased similarly in both cultivars with increasing levels of salinity. It is proposed that apoplast-associated peroxidase activity and ascorbic acid concentration are increased coordinately in response to salt stress and may be part of a protective anti-oxidation mechanism that determines cultivar sensitivity to BER.     

苹果果实中酚类物质与虎皮病的关系

红香蕉苹果的果皮和果心是两个酚类物质代谢的活跃区域,前者主要合成花色苷,后者合成木质素.采收期不同,虎皮病发病率不一,贮藏到次年3月,早采果61%发病,晚采果仅14%,生化分析表明,早采果果皮中水溶性酚含量、多酚氧化酶活性和花色苷含量分别是晚采果的2倍、1.6倍和35%.     

外源过氧化氢对干旱胁迫下温室黄瓜叶绿体超微结构和抗氧化酶的影响

 以温室黄瓜品种‘春光2号’为试材, 用100 g·L ^{- 1}聚乙二醇处理模拟干旱胁迫, 研究外源过氧化氢是否通过提高叶片抗氧化酶的活性来减轻干旱胁迫对叶绿体膜的伤害。结果表明: 干旱胁迫处理48 h后, 叶绿体肿胀变圆, 叶绿体膜和类囊体模糊不清。与干旱胁迫前没有经过预处理的幼苗相比, 经外源过氧化氢预处理后再干旱胁迫48 h的幼苗中大部分的叶绿体结构正常, 叶片的超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶、愈创木酚过氧化物酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和谷胱苷肽还原酶等抗氧化物酶的活性以及抗坏血酸和还原型谷胱苷肽的含量明显增高, 内源过氧化氢含量、超氧阴离子的产生速率和丙二醛的含量则显著降低。所以, 外源过氧化氢预处理能够提高抗氧化物的活性,降低活性氧的积累, 从而缓解干旱对黄瓜叶绿体膜的伤害。     

不同丝瓜品种褐变相关基因的表达分析

以7种不同丝瓜品种为试验材料,对采后丝瓜果实进行褐变鉴定,测定多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性及相关基因的表达量。结果表明:"苏丝3号""苏丝6号""苏丝7号"属于抗褐变品种;"苏丝4号""苏丝5号""苏丝10号"属于耐褐变品种;"苏丝8号"属于严重褐变。从褐变酶POD和PPO变化来看,"苏丝8号"POD活性高达456.7 U·mg-1,抗褐变品种"苏丝3号""苏丝6号""苏丝7号"POD活性均在250 U·mg-1。"苏丝8号"PPO活性为68.2 U·mg-1,"苏丝3号"PPO活性最小,低至25.2 U·mg-1。从褐变基因的变化来看,"苏丝8号"在LcPOD家族基因表达中均高于对照"苏丝3号",其中LcPOD3基因表达量高达5.23,是对照的5倍以上,其它的丝瓜品种LcPOD3基因变化不显著。褐变品种"苏丝8号"在LcPPO基因家族中上调显著,表明"苏丝8号"果实褐变时促进LcPPO基因家族的表达,从而转录翻译成PPO加快果实的褐变。与对照相比,丝瓜褐变基因LCWRKY在"苏丝8号"中上调显著,表明其参与了丝瓜果实采后褐变。其它丝瓜品种LCWRKY上调不显著。     

几种落叶果树H2O2含量变化与自然休眠关系的研究

 以设施栽培中常见的几种核果类果树品种和两个葡萄品种为试材, 分析了芽休眠期间 H₂O₂含量变化动态, 并探讨了温度、生长调节剂及化学破眠物质对H₂O₂含量影响的效应。结果表明: 休眠期间,不同树种( 品种) 芽内 H₂O₂含量存在差异, 基本趋势是晚熟品种高于早熟品种, 花芽高于叶芽, 但葡萄品种相反, 早熟的‘京秀’高于晚熟的‘巨峰’; 休眠期芽内 H₂O₂含量基本呈稳步上升后急剧下降的趋势,不同品种急剧下降的时间略有差别, 且与自然休眠解除的时间相吻合。低温(5 ℃) 处理显著增加了芽中 H₂O₂含量, 中温(10 ℃) 使 H₂O₂含量略有增加, 而高温(20 ℃) 却导致 H₂O₂含量降低。休眠前期50 mg.L^-1 ABA 处理显著提高了芽中H₂O₂含量, 而100 mg.L^-1的GA₃和6-BA 处理有减少 H₂O₂含量的趋势, 但二者差异不明显。热带地区常用的化学破眠物质对芽 H₂O₂的影响因树种( 品种) 、使用时期不同而异, 硫脲、KNO₃前期使用对核果类果树影响明显, CaCN₂对核果类无明显效应, 但对葡萄品种作用显著。果树芽 H₂O₂含量的动态变化表明, H₂O₂可能是低温解除自然休眠的原因。     

Effects of post-harvest salicylic acid treatment on fruit quality and anti-oxidant metabolism in pineapple during cold storage

Summary

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. ‘Comte de Paris’) fruit at commercial maturity (180 fruit per treatment, three replicates) were immersed in 0, 1.0, 3.0, or 5.0 mM salicylic acid (SA) for 15 min, then stored at 10ºC and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 20 d. After 20 d in cold storage, they were moved to 20ºC for 2 d to simulate shelf-life. Physiological and biochemical responses were studied. The results showed that the 3.0 or 5.0 mM SA treatments lowered the internal browning (IB) index, while the 5.0 mM SA treatment decreased the soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), and soluble sugar content, but increased ascorbic acid (AsA) levels at the end of shelf-life. Furthermore, during cold storage, all SA treatments significantly decreased the rate of tissue respiration in pineapple fruit. SA at 5.0 mM significantly decreased the activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), but increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) compared with the non-SA treated (untreated) controls. Overall, these results indicate that post-harvest treatment with 5.0 mM SA delayed the occurrence of IB in pineapple, extended its shelf-life, and maintained fruit quality during cold storage.     

Physiological and biochemical changes with special reference to mangiferin and oxidative enzymes level in malformation resistant and susceptible cultivars of mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Changes in biophysical attributes, mangiferin and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase and peroxidase activities in malformation resistant mango cultivar Elaichi were studied at various stages of flower development and compared with susceptible cvs. Amrapali, Beauty Mc-lin and Dashehari. Accumulation of mangiferin was maximum (96.0 and 108.0 mg g⁻¹ FW) in Elaichi prior to flower bud differentiation (September) and at full bloom (February), while these were minimum (59.0 and 74.0 mg g⁻¹ FW) in susceptible cv. Beauty Mc-lin. Mangiferin promoted vegetative growth and exhibited inhibitory role on the occurrence of malformation. It was also found that the resistant cultivar had highest activity of PPO as compared to susceptible ones. There was no significant difference in the enzymes catalase and peroxidase activity at early stage of flower differentiation but at flower bud burst stage the catalase activity was enhanced significantly in cv. Elaichi (25.28 unit min⁻¹ g⁻¹ FW) in comparison to Amrapali (16.20 unit min⁻¹ g⁻¹ FW), Beauty Mc-lin (18.39 unit min⁻¹ g⁻¹ FW) and Dashehari (17.50 unit min⁻¹ g⁻¹ FW). The resistant cultivar had high leaf temperature (30.30 °C) and diffusion resistance (476.14 m mol m⁻² s⁻¹) during the flowering but the rate of transpiration and relative humidity (RH) were high in susceptible cultivars. Results of the present study clearly indicate that level of mangiferin could be considered as a potential biochemical indicator for screening mango genotypes to malformation.     

Storability of ‘Conference’ Pear Under Various Controlled Atmospheres

In two consecutive experimental seasons it was investigated the storage capacity of ‘Conference’ pear (Pyrus communis, L.) under regular air (RA) and various controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions during six months at 0?°C (±0.3). The occurrence flesh browning (FB), core browning (CB) and cavity formation (CF) was evaluated at each 2?months storage intervals and the ripening quality traits analyzed immediately at the end of storage period and after 7 days of shelf-life in air at 20?°C. The storage conditions were: RA; 0.5?kPa O₂?+?0.5?kPa CO₂; 1.5?kPa O₂?+?1.5?kPa CO₂, 2.0?kPa O₂?+?1.0?kPa CO₂; 3.0?kPa O₂?+?6.0?kPa CO₂ and 0.5?kPa O₂?+?6.0?kPa CO₂. After six months, ‘Conference’ pear was very susceptible to FB, CB and CF under CA-storage. The damages started to develop at the second month of storage, increasing continuously until end of storage period. At storage end, pear fruits kept under 0.5?kPa O₂?+?6.0?kPa CO₂ showed a dramatic high occurrence of FB, CB and CF with a severity index of 50.6, 45.3 and 27.1, respectively. The lowest incidences of FB, CB and CF were scored in fruits kept at 2.0?kPa O₂?+?1.0?kPa CO₂ with severity indexes of 1.1, 1.1 and 1.0, respectively. Flesh firmness, skin color, titratable acidity and total soluble solids were satisfactory under 2.0?kPa O₂?+?1.0?kPa CO₂. In conclusion, ‘Conference’ pear cannot be stored under O₂ partial pressure lower than 2.0?kPa and CO₂ higher than 0.5?kPa.