Water Deficit-Induced Functional Modulations in Oenothera biennis L.

Abstract

 In order to assess the implication of oxidative stress in O. biennis L.  a medicinal plant to  water deficit,  plants were grown with increasing water stress regimes ie  at -0.01 M Pa,-0.03 M Pa ,-0.05 M Pa and -0.07 M Pa and under control condition. The antioxidant capability of the plants was determined by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities. The enzymatic antioxidants analyzed in the leaves and roots revealed significant increase in the contents of SOD, CAT, POD, APX in both leaves as well as roots in comparison to untreated plants. In GPX the antioxidant activity increased for 180 days and then decreased but found to be higher than untreated plants. GST showed variable behavior to treatments. It increased in leaves in concentration dependent manner. It decreased in roots in -0.01 M Pa and -0.03 M Pa treated plants compared to untreated plants.