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Biochemical and Photosynthetic Evaluation of Responses in Zea mays L. Under Drought Stress

S.S. Abu-Muriefah1 , Mohamed M. Ibrahim2,3 * and Gehan A. Elgaaly4

1 Department of Biology, Science College, Prince Noura University, Riyadh, KSA

2 Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia

3 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, P.O. Box 21511 Egypt

4 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Female Section, College of Science, King Saud University P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11495 Saudi Arabia

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.9.1.13

Antioxidant defense system(s), pigments content and photosynthetic activity as well as some biochemical changes under drought stress were analyzed in maize (Zea mays L. cv. Giza 21) leaves to determine the response of  plant to drought stress and to elucidate the role of various protective mechanisms against oxidative stress. It was found that the application of drought stress led to changes in the carbohydrates and protein contents. Total soluble sugars, accumulated in the leaves of water-stressed plants, whereas, starch and protein contents were dropped to a small amounts compared to the control. Furthermore, plants have well-developed defense systems againstreactive oxygen species (ROS), involving both limiting the formation of ROS as well asinstituting its removal. Within a cell, the activities of a range of antioxidant enzymes suchas superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase(APX) involved in scavenging ROS were investigated. During dehydrationthe SOD, APX and CAT increased significantly up to 4 days, then declined in their activities but still maintained higher than the control levels this indicates that the defense systems involvedare efficient in the protection of plant cells against oxidation. In addition, there was consistent increase in the lipid peroxidation and accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA). The levels of hydrogen peroxide were also elevated during stressing periods. In this study we are reporting the negative response of maize plants toward drought stress especially on the antioxidant enzymatic activity for the prolonged drought effect.

Drought; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS); Antioxidants

Copy the following to cite this article:

Abu-Muriefah S. S, IbrahimM. M, Elgaaly G. A. Biochemical and Photosynthetic Evaluation of Responses in Zea mays L. Under Drought Stress. Curr World Environ 2014;9(1) DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.9.1.13

Copy the following to cite this URL:

Abu-Muriefah S. S, IbrahimM. M, Elgaaly G. A. Biochemical and Photosynthetic Evaluation of Responses in Zea mays L. Under Drought Stress. Curr World Environ 2014;9(1). Available from: http://www.cwejournal.org/?p=5752

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