Active oxygen scavengers during cold acclimation of Scots pine seedlings in relation to freezing tolerance

• Freezing injury of plants may be caused by the deleterious reactions of active oxygen species, and free-radical scavenging systems may be important in the alleviation of freezing stress. To test the feasibility of this hypothesis, enzymes and metabolites that cooperatively scavenge O-2(-) and H2O2 were analyzed in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings during a stepwise cold acclimation procedure. Elevated levels of enzymatic scavengers such as ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehy droascorbate reductase were found, along with increased freezing tolerance during cold acclimation, supporting the hypothesis. Induction of the scavenging systems during acclimation is discussed in relation to freezing tolerance. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

Nyckelord

active oxygen

freezing tolerance

low temperature

Pinus

scavenging systems

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