Effects of drought stress on biomass, enzyme activity and proline content of Ziziphus spina-christi leaf and root at nursery condition

Subject Areas : Journal of Plant Ecophysiology

J. Mirzaei ¹ ( استادیار دانشگاه ایلام. )

Received: 2015-01-26 Accepted : 2015-01-26 Published : 2015-01-01

Keywords: Peroxidase, Catalase, Ilam, superoxid-dismutase,

Abstract :

In this study the biomass, proline content and enzyme activity of root and leaf ofZiziphus spina-christiseedlings under drought stress were studied in nursery conditions. For this purpose, the seedlings of Z. spina-christi were exposed to four levels of drought stress (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% field capacity) in nursery of Mehran city, Ilam with sub-tropical climate for 9 months. Finaly, survival, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, proline content and activity of Catalase, Peroxidase and Superoxid-Dismutase enzymes of Z. spina-christiseedlings were measured. The results showed that drought stress decreased the survival, fresh and dry weight of shoot, root, root fresh weight and root volume. Also, drought stress increased Peroxidase and Superoxide-dismutase enzyme activities of seedling shoots. The free proline content of shoot in seedlings subjected to drought stress was higher than other treatments, but it affected proline content of roots. This study revealed that despite the drought resistance of Z. spina-christiseedlings, the biomass decreased and activity of peroxidase, superoxide-dismutase enzymes and proline content increased under drought stress condition.