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Stress tolerance and reactive oxygen metabolism in the intertidal red seaweeds Mastocarpus stellatus and Chondrus crispus
Author(s) -
Collén J.,
Davison I. R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3040.1999.00477.x
Subject(s) - glutathione reductase , intertidal zone , catalase , reactive oxygen species , botany , biology , superoxide dismutase , oxidative stress , glutathione peroxidase , ecology , biochemistry
Mastocarpus stellatus and Chondrus crispus are morphologically similar red seaweeds that co‐occur on rocky intertidal seashores in the Northern Atlantic. Mastocarpus stellatus grows higher on the shore and is more tolerant of environmental stress, caused by factors such as freezing and desiccation, than C. crispus. Here we report a correlation between reactive oxygen metabolism and stress tolerance, which suggests that reactive oxygen metabolism may play a role in stress tolerance of intertidal red seaweeds. Mastocarpus stellatus scavenged added H 2 O 2 slightly faster, and was more resistant to oxidative stress induced by addition of H 2 O 2 and Rose Bengal, than C. crispus. These data were consistent with higher levels of ascorbate and β ‐carotene and higher activities of catalase and glutathione reductase, in M. stellatus . Tocopherol content and activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were similar in both species. Activities of reactive oxygen scavenging enzymes generally increased with tidal height in M. stellatus; this was, however, not a consistent trend in C. crispus.