Heme oxygenase contributes to alleviate salinity damage in Glycine max L. leaves

ZILLI CG; SANTA CRUZ DM; YANNARELLI GG; NORIEGA GO; TOMARO ML; BALESTRASSE KB

International Journal of Cell Biology

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Año: 2009 vol. 2009 p. 1 - 9

Plants are frequently subjected to different kind of stress, such as salinity and, like otherorganisms, they have evolved strategies for preventing and repairing cellular damage caused bysalt stress. Glycine max L. plants were subjected to different NaCl concentrations (0-200 mM)for 10 days. Treatments with 100 and 200 mM NaCl induced ion leakage and lipid peroxidationaugmentation, loss in chlorophyll content and accumulation of O2•- and H2O2. However, 50 mMNaCl did not modify these parameters, which remains similar to control values. Catalase,superoxide dismutase and heme oxygenase (HO-1) activities and gene expressions wereincreased under 100 mM NaCl, while no differences were observed respect to controls under 50mM salt. Treatment with 200 mM NaCl caused a diminution in the enzyme activities and geneexpressions. Results here reported let us conclude that HO also plays a leading role in thedefense mechanisms against salinity.