The UV-B impact upon the enzyme of antioxidant system superoxide dismutase (SOD) of potato somatic hybrids

Abstract

Plant response to the UV-B stress and evaluation of the role of the antioxidant enzyme SOD (SOD EC 1.15.1.1) in adaptation mechanisms of frost-resistant somatic hybrids of Solanum tuberosum and Solanum commersonii as well as their paternal forms have been investigated. After UV-B impact, leaf area, dry weight and the concentration of chlorophyll a and b decreased. However, antioxidant activity of SOD increased in all test plants, but the frost-resistant potašo hybrids demonstrated a higher SOD level than the frost-sensitive S. tuberosum ‘Matilda’, and even a higher level of tolerance towards the other abiotic factor, UV-B irradiation, was observed. An increased activity of SOD after UV-B irradiation should be regarded as the adaptive response of a plant to oxidative stress common in both frost treatment and UV-B irradiation. It confirms the participation of SOD isoforms in the adaptation and protection mechanisms. Keywords: frost resistance, UV-B response, superoxide dismutase (SOD EC 1.15.1.1), Solanum tuberosum, S. commersonii, frost-resistant somatic hybrids