Effects of Abscisic Acid on Antioxidant Systems of Stylosanthes guianensis (Aublet) Sw. under Chilling Stress

Abstract

Stylosanthes guianensis (Aublet) Sw. is an important pasture legume in tropical and subtropical countries. Chilling injury of S. guianensis is a serious problem in subtropical cultivated areas. An experiment was conducted under controlled conditions to study the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on S. guianensis and its relation to antioxidant systems under chilling stress. Stylosanthes guianensis seedlings were sprayed with 10 mg L−1 ABA or water. One day later, the plants were transferred to a 10°C growth chamber and grown for 7 d with a 12‐h photoperiod at 160 μmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density. The chilling treated plants were then rewarmed to 28°C for 2 d. During the 9‐d treatment, a series of enzyme activities, relative water content (RWC), and electrolyte leakage were measured on sampled leaflets. The results showed that chilling increased electrolyte leakage of both water‐ and ABA‐treated plants, while RWC decreased under chilling conditions. ABA‐treated plants had lower electrolyte leakage and higher RWC than those of water‐treated plants. Activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) and contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AsA) were transiently enhanced by ABA treatment before the plants were subject to chilling. ABA‐treated S. guianensis retained higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), APX, GSH, and AsA than water‐treated ones under chilling conditions. The results suggested that ABA‐increased chilling resistance in S. guianensis is partially associated with enhanced scavenging systems.