Photosynthetica 2015, 53(4):547-554 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-015-0146-x

Photosynthetic and antioxidant responses to drought during sugarcane ripening

C. R. G. Sales1, P. E. R. Marchiori1, R. S. Machado1, A. V. Fontenele2, E. C. Machado1, J. A. G. Silveira2, R. V. Ribeiro3,*
1 Laboratory of Plant Physiology 'Coaracy M. Franco', Center for Research and Development in Ecophysiology and Biophysics, Agronomic Institute (IAC), Campinas SP, Brazil
2 Laboratory of Plant Metabolism, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza CE, Brazil
3 Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas SP, Brazil

Water deficit is an important exogenous factor that enhances the influx of sucrose into sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) stem internodes during ripening, when photosynthetic ability in supplying sinks is essential. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that drought tolerance in sugarcane is associated with an effective antioxidant protection during the ripening phase that might maintain a favorable redox balance in chloroplasts and protect photosynthesis under drought conditions. Two commercial sugarcane varieties, IACSP94-2094 (tolerant) and IACSP96-2042 (sensitive), with contrasting behavior under water deficit, were subjected to water withholding during the ripening stage. Our results revealed that the tolerant variety was less affected by water deficit, maintaining photosynthesis for a longer period and showing a faster recovery after rehydration as compared to the sensitive one. As consequence, the tolerant variety faced lesser excess of light energy at PSII. The maintenance of photosynthesis under water deficit and its fast recovery after rehydration resulted in the lower leaf H2O2 concentration and favorable redox status in the drought-tolerant genotype, which was associated with stimulation of superoxide dismutase during ripening. Our results also revealed that ferric superoxide dismutase isoforms were strongly enhanced under drought conditions, playing an important role in chloroplast redox homeostasis.

Keywords: chlorophyll fluorescence; leaf gas exchange; oxidative stress; water stress

Received: July 11, 2014; Accepted: March 25, 2015; Published: December 1, 2015Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Sales, C.R.G., Marchiori, P.E.R., Machado, R.S., Fontenele, A.V., Machado, E.C., Silveira, J.A.G., & Ribeiro, R.V. (2015). Photosynthetic and antioxidant responses to drought during sugarcane ripening. Photosynthetica, 53(4), 547-554. doi: 10.1007/s11099-015-0146-x.
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)

    • Open full article

    References

    1. Asada K.: Production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts and their functions. - Plant Physiol. 141: 391-396, 2006. Go to original source...
    2. Azevedo R.A., Carvalho R.F., Cia M.C. et al.: Sugarcane under pressure: an overview of biochemical and physiological studies of abiotic stress. - Trop. Plant Biol. 4: 42-51, 2011. Go to original source...
    3. Baker N.R.: Chlorophyll fluorescence: a probe of photosynthesis in vivo. - Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 59: 89-113, 2008. Go to original source...
    4. Beauchamp C., Fridovich I.: Superoxide dismutase: improved assay applicable to acrylamide gels. - Anal. Biochem. 44: 276-287, 1971. Go to original source...
    5. Bilger W., Schreiber U., Bock M.: Determination of the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in the field. - Oecologia 102: 425-432, 1995. Go to original source...
    6. Boaretto L.F., Carvalho G., Borgo L. et al.: Water stress reveals differential antioxidant responses of tolerant and non-tolerant sugarcane genotypes. - Plant Physiol. Bioch. 74: 165-175, 2014. Go to original source...
    7. Brennan T., Frenkel C.: Involvement of hydrogen peroxide in the regulation of senescence in pear. - Plant Physiol. 59: 411-416, 1977. Go to original source...
    8. Cakmak I., Horst W.J.: Effect of aluminum on lipid-peroxidation, superoxide-dismutase, catalase and peroxidase-activities in toor-tips of soybean (Glycine max). - Physiol. Plantarum 83: 463-468, 1991. Go to original source...
    9. Chaves M.M., Flexas J., Pinheiro C.: Photosynthesis under drought and salt stress: regulation mechanisms from whole plant to cell. - Ann. Bot.-London 103: 551-560, 2009. Go to original source...
    10. Foyer C.H., Noctor G.: Oxygen processing in photosynthesis: regulation and signaling. - New Phytol. 146: 359-388, 2000. Go to original source...
    11. Foyer C.H., Shigeoka S.: Understanding oxidative stress and antioxidant functions to enhance photosynthesis. - Plant Physiol. 155: 93-100, 2011. Go to original source...
    12. Giannopolitis C.N., Ries S.K.: Superoxide dismutases: I. Occurrence in higher plants. - Plant Physiol. 59: 309-314, 1977. Go to original source...
    13. Horton P., Ruban A.V., Walters R.G.: Regulation of light harvesting in green plants. - Annu. Rev. Plant Phys. 47: 655-684, 1996. Go to original source...
    14. Inman-Bamber N.G.: Sugarcane water stress criteria for irrigation and drying off. - Field Crop. Res. 89: 107-122, 2004. Go to original source...
    15. Inman-Bamber N.G., Jackson P.A., Hewitt M.: Sucrose accumulation in sugarcane stalks does not limit photosynthesis and biomass production. - Crop Pasture Sci. 62: 848-858, 2011. Go to original source...
    16. Kampfenkel K., Van Montagu M., Inzé D.: Extraction and determination of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate from plant tissue. - Anal. Biochem. 225:165-167, 1995. Go to original source...
    17. Lawlor D.W., Tezara W.: Causes of decreased photosynthetic rate and metabolic capacity in water-deficient leaf cells: a critical evaluation of mechanisms and integration of processes. - Ann. Bot.-London 103: 561-579, 2009. Go to original source...
    18. Machado R.S., Ribeiro R.V., Marchiori P.E.R. et al.: [Biometric and physiological responses to water deficit in sugarcane at different phenological stages.] - Pesqui. Agropecu. Bras. 44: 1575-1582, 2009. [In Portuguese] Go to original source...
    19. Martinez C.A., Loureiro M.E., Oliva M.A. et al.: Differential responses of superoxide dismutase in freezing resistant Solanum curtilubum and freezing sensitive Solanum tuberosum subjected to oxidative and water stress. - Plant Sci. 160: 505-515, 2001. Go to original source...
    20. McCormick A.J., Cramer M.D., Watt D.A.: Culm sucrose accumulation promotes physiological decline of mature leaves in ripening sugarcane. - Field Crop. Res. 108: 250-258, 2008. Go to original source...
    21. Mittler R.: Oxidative stress, antioxidants and stress tolerance. - Trends Plant Sci. 7: 405-410, 2002. Go to original source...
    22. Nakano Y., Asada K.: Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidase in spinach chloroplasts. - Plant Cell Physiol. 22: 867-880, 1981.
    23. Niyogi K.K., Grossman A.R., Björkman O.: Arabidopsis mutants define a central role for the xanthophyll cycle in the regulation of photosynthetic energy conversion. - Plant Cell 10: 1121-1134, 1998. Go to original source...
    24. Ribeiro R.V., Machado R.S., Machado E.C. et al.: Revealing drought-resistance and productive patterns in sugarcane genotypes by evaluating both physiological responses and stalk yield. - Exp. Agr. 49: 212-224, 2013. Go to original source...
    25. Sales C.R.G., Ribeiro R.V., Silveira J.A.G. et al.: Superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase improve the recovery of photosynthesis in sugarcane plants subjected to water deficit and low substrate temperature. - Plant Physiol. Bioch. 73: 326-336, 2013. Go to original source...
    26. Silva E.N., Ferreira-Silva S.L., Fontanele A.V. et al.: Photosynthetic changes and protective mechanisms against oxidative damage subjected to isolated and combined drought and heat stresses in Jatropha curcas plants. - J. Plant Physiol. 167: 1157-1164, 2010. Go to original source...
    27. Su Y., Guo J., Ling H. et al.: Isolation of a novel peroxisomal catalase gene from sugarcane, which is responsive to biotic and abiotic stresses. - PLoS One 9: 1-11, 2014. Go to original source...
    28. Van Raij B., Cantarella H., Spironello A. et al.: [Sugarcane]. - In: Van Raij B., Cantarella H., Quagglio J.A. et al. (ed.): [Recommendation of Fertilization and Liming to the State of São Paulo]. Pp. 237-239. IAC, Campinas 1996. [In Portuguese]
    29. Wang J., Nayak S., Koch K. et al.: Carbon partitioning in sugarcane (Saccharum species). - Front. Plant Sci.: doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00201, 2013. Go to original source...
    30. Zimmermann P., Heinlein C., Orendi G. et al.: Senescencespecific regulation of catalases in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. - Plant Cell Environ. 29: 1049-1060, 2006. Go to original source...

    Return to the content