[Effects of copper stress on Medicago sativa seedlings leaf antioxidative system]

This paper studied the effects of different concentration (0, 10, 30, 50, and 100 micromol x L(-1)) CuSO4 on the leaf physiological and biochemical characteristics of Medicago sativa seedlings cultured with 1/4-strength Hoagland nutrient solution. In treatments 30, 50, and 100 micromol x L(-1) of CuSO4, the leaf H2O2, OH., and MDA contents and Fe-SOD and EST activities increased, and GSH and AsA contents increased significantly. With increasing concentration Cu, the POD, GR, and APX activities increased gradually, and the CAT and G6PDH activities decreased after an initial increase. In treatments >10 micromol x L(-1) of Cu, the capacity of leaf antioxidative system in reactive oxygen species scavenging increased to prevent the injury from copper-induced oxidative stress.