Differential Antioxidative Responses to Environmental Constraints in Shoots and Roots of Wild Legumes

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the antioxidant system of five legumes inhabiting regions with different conditions. In these legumes, H2O2 generation and lipid peroxidation enhanced in roots of plants inhabiting the Mediterranean region (MR) and Sinai (S) where high soluble salts and low water content in the soil were estimated. High levels of phenols and ascorbic acid were detected in shoots of these plants compared with those inhabiting the Nile region (NR) or Oases (O), which characterized by low soluble salts and high water content. There were great variations between species in their responses to adverse conditions, and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes were recorded in plants inhabiting the more stressful habitats. Roots and shoots of legumes responded differentially to oxidative stresses regarding the induction of enhanced or suppressed activities of a definite antioxidative enzym. While CAT activity increased in shoots, GP activity greatly stimulated in roots of legumes at different habitats. The activity of APX decreased in roots but increased in shoots by the harsh conditions of habitate showing minimum and maximum activities in roots and shoots, respectively, in plants inhabiting S. The activity of CAT and APX increased in shoots by increasing the concentration of H2O2, while the over expression of GP gene in roots enhanced scavenging H2O2 to a level between 6% to 37% of its concentration in shoots. Genes expression of the antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GP and APX) more regulated, especially in shoots, by the environmental constraints than the differences between species.