Abstract
This study investigated the effects of drought stress on the physiological and biochemical responses of the medicinal and aromatic plant Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort). Changes were determined in leaf length, relative water content (RWC), osmotic potential, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and proline content as well as in the antioxidant system enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). These responses were examined in relation to the tolerance of drought stress in H. perforatum. Ninety-day-old seedlings were subjected to drought for three weeks. The physiological parameters of leaf length, RWC, Fv/Fm, and osmotic potential were reduced under drought. The H2O2, TBARS, and proline levels were increased significantly under drought stress. Moreover, the proline content increase was greatly pronounced (25.9-fold) compared to the control groups. The high accumulation of proline may have resulted from the 83.8% leaf RWC still remaining under drought stress. On the other hand, the SOD, CAT, and GR enzyme activities were enhanced, whereas the POX and APX activities were reduced. The results indicate that improved tolerance to drought stress in H. perforatum plants may be accomplished through increased capacity of the antioxidative defense system
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.