Superoxide Dismutase Plays an Important Role in Maize Resistance to Soil CO_(2)Stress

CO_(2)capture and storage(CCS)has the risk of CO_(2)leakage,and this leakage always increases soil CO_(2)concentration,and the long-term CO_(2)stress damages crop production in farmland.Using maize,the growth characteristics,such as plant height and yield,and physiological indexes(osmoregulation substances and antioxidant enzymes)were explored under different simulative CO_(2)leakage conditions.Further,the relationship between maize physiological indexes and soil CO_(2)concentration was analyzed,showing that soil CO_(2)stress inhibited maize growth to a certain extent,resulting in shorter plants,thinner stems and lower kernel yield.With an increase in soil CO_(2)concentration,the contents of malondialdehyde,soluble sugar and soluble protein in maize leaves increased;with continuing stress,the increase rate of malondialdehyde was greatly augmented,whereas the increase rates of soluble sugar and soluble protein decreased.With extended CO_(2)stress,the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase(SOD)increased continuously,while the activities of catalase and peroxidase first increased and then decreased.Superoxide dismutase activity was closely correlated with soil CO_(2)concentration(r=0.762),and responded quickly to the change of soil CO_(2)concentration(R~2=0.9951).Therefore,SOD plays an important role in maize resistance to soil CO_(2)stress.This study will help further understanding of the mechanism of maize tolerance to soil CO_(2)stress,providing a theoretical basis for agricultural production in CCS project areas.