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MEMBRANE THERMOSTABILITY AND NITRATE REDUCTASE ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO WATER STRESS TOLERANCE OF YOUNG SUGAR-CANE
S Venkataramana1, K Mohan Naidu1, Sudama Singh1
1Sugar-cane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore 641007, India.
The New Phytologist
|April 20, 2021
Summary
Sugar-cane plants subjected to water stress showed reduced nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and increased membrane injury. Recovery after rehydration was faster for water potential and NRA than for membrane stability.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Water stress significantly impacts crop yield and quality.
- Cellular membrane stability and nitrate reductase activity (NRA) are key indicators of plant stress tolerance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess water stress tolerance in sugar-cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) using cellular membrane thermostability and in vivo NRA.
- To correlate physiological stress indicators with water potential changes.
Main Methods:
- Young leaves of sugar-cane hybrids (Co 419, Co 740, Co 1148) were subjected to water stress and subsequent rehydration.
- Measurements included leaf water potential (ΨL), in vivo NRA, cellular membrane injury, and malondialdehyde concentration.
Main Results:
- Water stress led to a decrease in ΨL from -0.97 to -1.91 MPa, reduced NRA, and increased membrane injury.
- Significant positive correlation between ΨL and NRA; significant negative correlation between ΨL and membrane injury.
- Malondialdehyde concentration doubled with declining ΨL, indicating lipid peroxidation.
Conclusions:
- Cellular membrane thermostability and NRA are reliable indicators for assessing water stress tolerance in sugar-cane.
- While NRA and water potential recovered well after rehydration, membrane integrity showed slower recovery.
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