Dynamic responses of photosynthesis and antioxidant system during a drought and rehydration cycle in peanut plants. Functional Plant Biology

FURLAN ANA ; BIANUCCI, ELIANA; TORDABLE MARÍA DEL CARMEN ; KLEINERT ALEYSIA; VALENTINE ALEXANDER; CASTRO STELLA

FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2016

1445-4408

Drought stress is one of the most important environmental factors that adversely affect the productivity andquality of crops. Most studies focus on elucidating plant responses to this stress but the reversibility of these effects is lessknown. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether drought-stressed peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants were capable ofrecovering their metabolism upon rehydration, with a focus on their antioxidant system. Peanut plants in the flowering phase(30 days after sowing) were exposed to drought stress by withholding irrigation during 14 days and subsequent rehydrationduring 3 days. Under these conditions, physiological status indicators, reactive oxygen species production and antioxidantsystem activity were evaluated. Under drought stress, the stomatal conductance, photosynthetic quantum yield andCratio of the peanut plants were negatively affected, and also they accumulated reactive oxygen species. The antioxidantsystem of peanut plants showed increases in superoxide dismutase-, ascorbate peroxidase- and glutathione reductasespecificactivities, as well as the total ascorbate content. All of these responses were reversed upon rehydration at 3 days. Theefficient and dynamic regulation of variables related to photosynthesis and the antioxidant system during a drought andrehydration cycle in peanut plants was demonstrated. It is suggested that the activation of the antioxidant system couldmediate the signalling of drought stress responses that enable the plant to survive and recover completely within 3 daysof rehydration