The Effects of Calcium Nutrition on the Activities of Lactate Dehydrogenase, Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Other Enzymes in Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Seedlings Subjected to Flooding

Abstract

With transient flooding followed by poor or slow drainage plant roots may become reduction conditions because the root zone was fully filled with water. This study was examined the effects of calcium treatment in the early growth stage on biochemical changes in leaves and roots of melon (Cucumis melo L.) seedlings kept under flooding condition for 72 h. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase more gradually enhanced in the roots than those of leaves of melon seedlings treated with calcium. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase associated with alcohol fermentation under low oxygen conditions continuously increased in the leaves and roots of seedlings untreated with calcium under flooding at least 72 h but those was constant within at least 12 h in treated with calcium. These results showed that calcium supplying in the early growth stage mitigated alcohol fermentation of melon seedlings kept under flooding condition for 72 h. Activities of nitrate reductase and acid phosphatase in the leaves and roots of seedlings in treated with calcium somewhat higher than those of non-treated with calcium. The activities of sucrose phosphate synthase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase of leaves of seedlings in treated with calcium more higher than those of non-treated with calcium. These results indicated that calcium nutrition mitigate the reduction of activities of some enzymes of melon seedling kept under flooding condition for 72 h.