Water stress-mediated changes in antioxidant enzyme activities of mulberry (Morus alba L.)

Abstract

Waters stress-induced responses in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascrobate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) from three different genotypes (K-2, MR-2 and BC2-59) of mulberry (Morus alba L.) were determined. In response to water deficit, increases in the activities of SOD, CAT, APX and POD were observed in all the three genotypes. Progressive increase in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes was observed with decreasing leaf water potentials from -0.75 MPa to -2.25 MPa. However BC2-59 showed significantly higher activities of all the three antioxidant enzymes under low water regimes compared to those from K-2 and MR-2. The results clearly suggest that low leaf water potentials induce the antioxidant enzymes in all the three genotypes of mulberry. Our data indicate that the genotype BC2-59 has efficient antioxidant system among the three cultivars which could protect the oxidative damage caused due to water limited conditions.