Changes in Certain Antioxidative Enzymes and Growth Parameters as a Result of Complete Submergence and Subsequent Re‐aeration of Rice Cultivars Differing in Submergence Tolerance

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-037x.2001.00510.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T02:58:08Z
• Authors: R. K. Sarkar; S. Das; I. Ravi
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; 03 medical and health sciences; 01 natural sciences

An experiment was conducted on the three indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars IR 42, CR 383‐10 and FR 13A, which are susceptible to submergence, submergence‐avoiding and tolerant to submergence, respectively. A deleterious effect of submergence was noted as both above‐ground dry matter accumulation and chlorophyll content decreased during submergence and subsequent re‐aeration. However, the rate of reduction was lower in the tolerant cultivar. The tolerant cultivar FR 13A maintained higher dry weight during submergence and subsequent re‐aeration and accumulated lower proline and malondialdehyde contents than the other cultivars. The activities of the enzymes catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, expressed on a per g fresh weight of leaves basis, were higher in FR 13A than in the other cultivars, both under water and 24 h after the initiation of re‐aeration. However, ascorbic acid oxidase activity was lower in FR 13A. The cultivar CR 383‐10, which has the capacity to accumulate more above‐ground dry matter under normal conditions, showed a greater elongation ability under submergence and was similar to the susceptible cultivar IR 42 in terms of enzyme activities and the other parameters investigated during submergence and subsequent re‐aeration.