Open AccessThe role of antioxidant defense in freezing tolerance of resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis
Author(s) -
Katya Georgieva,
Gergana Mihailova,
L. Gigova,
Soleya Dag,
Lyudmila SimovaStoilova,
Maya Velitchkova
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
physiology and molecular biology of plants/physiology and molecular biology of plants
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.754
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 0971-5894
pISSN - 0974-0430
DOI - 10.1007/s12298-021-00998-0
Subject(s) - desiccation , acclimatization , antioxidant , desiccation tolerance , anthocyanin , plant physiology , chemistry , abscisic acid , botany , oxidative stress , horticulture , food science , biology , biochemistry , gene
Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. is unique with its ability to survive two extreme environmental stresses-desiccation to air-dry state and subzero temperatures. In contrast to desiccation tolerance, the mechanisms of freezing tolerance of resurrection plants are scarcely investigated. In the present study, the role of antioxidant defense in the acquisition of cold acclimation and freezing tolerance in this resurrection plant was investigated comparing the results of two sets of experiments-short term freezing stress after cold acclimation in controlled conditions and long term freezing stress as a part of seasonal temperature fluctuations in an outdoor ex situ experiment. Significant enhancement in flavonoids and anthocyanin content was observed only as a result of freezing-induced desiccation. The total amount of polyphenols increased upon cold acclimation and it was similar to the control in post freezing stress and freezing-induced desiccation. The main role of phenylethanoid glucoside, myconoside and hispidulin 8-C-(2-O-syringoyl-b-glucopyranoside) in cold acclimation and freezing tolerance was elucidated. The treatments under controlled conditions in a growth chamber showed enhancement in antioxidant enzymes activity upon cold acclimation but it declined after subsequent exposure to -10 °C. Although it varied under ex situ conditions, the activity of antioxidant enzymes was high, indicating their important role in overcoming oxidative stress under all treatments. In addition, the activity of specific isoenzymes was upregulated as compared to the control plants, which could be more useful for stress counteraction compared to changes in the total enzyme activity, due to the action of these isoforms in the specific cellular compartments.