Effect of Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Strains on Mineral Nutrition and Antioxidant Enzymes of Chrysanthemum morifolium

[Objective] The purpose was to study the effects of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi strains（AMF）on the mineral nutrition and antioxidant enzymes of Chrysanthemum morifolium.[Method] The pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse,C.morifolium ＇Jinba＇ was inoculated with five kinds of AMF,N,P,K,malondial dehyde（MDA）content,as well as the superoxide dismutase（SOD）,peroxidase（POD） and catalase（CAT） activity in roots,leaves and petals of C.morifolium were measured at seedling and flowering stages.[Result] The G.i,G.e and G.m treatments could promote mineral nutrient absorption,increase N,P,K content in roots,leaves and petals of C.morifolium compared with the control without inoculation.The G.d、G.e and G.m treatments could significantly reduce MDA content in roots and petals,thus alleviating membrane permeability and lipid peroxidation.The G.i treatments could also improve the SOD,POD and CAT activities of C.morifolium,thereby increasing the capability of scavenging oxygen free radicals.[Conclusion] According to the comprehensive analysis,G.i was screened out as the best strain to improve mineral nutrition and antioxidant enzyme activities of C.morifolium.

Research on Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes during Pigment Gland Morphogenesis in Cotton

[Objective] This study aimed to determine activities of antioxidant enzymes during gland morphogenesis in cotton, thoroughly explore physiological changes of cotton and provide a scientific basis for the cultivation of excellent cotton varieties. [Method] Based on determination of gossypol contents and antioxidant enzymes ac- tivities during gland morphogenesis in three cotton varieties （Chuanmian2802, Xiang- mian18 and XianwuN5）, metabolism of gossypol and morphogenesis of gland in cot- ton were explored. [Result] After gland morphogenesis, the content of gossypol in Chuanmian2802 was gradually reduced in the early period of seed germination, which slowly increased since the 5th d after germination; however, during the seed germination period, the content of gossypol in Xiangmian18 had a slowly increasing trend and was gradually close to the content of gossypol in Chuanmian2802. The results showed that activities of SOD, POD and CAT increased in seed germination, which was contributive to remove the superoxide radicals, decrease the peroxide lev- el, reduce damages to the membrane, enhance the body＇s resistance to lipid oxida- tion and increase resistance ability to stress. [Conclusion] This study laid the scientif- ic foundation for understanding the characteristics of gland morphogenesis in cotton and cotton cultivation by using gland traits.

Effects of Heavy-ion Beams Irradiation on Survival Rate and Antioxidant Enzymes of Sweet Sorghum Seedlings

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of heavy-ion beams irradiation on the seed germination potential, survival rate, antioxidant enzyme activi- ties and lipid peroxidation of sweet sorghum. [Method] The dry seeds were irradiated by ＇2（36. heavy ion beams with absorbed doses： 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 Gy, respectively. Then, the seed germination potential, survival rate, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of sweet sorghum were measured. [Result] Heavy-ion beams irradiation exhibited different influence on germination potential and survival rates. Germination rate showed a downward trend, but the corresponding survival curve of seedlings was saddle-shaped. The activities of SOD, POD, CAT and ASA- POD changed in different trends as well. The MDA content rose toward increasing irradiation dose, suggesting that high dose of heavy-ion beams irradiation enhanced the damage to membrane of sweet sorghum seedlings. [Conclusion] After being irra- diated, germination potential and survival rates of sweet sorghum were decreased, and antioxidant enzymes activity changed greatly. This study laid the basis for fur- ther work on breeding and improvement of sweet sorghum irradiated by ,^（12）C^（6＋） heavy ion beams.

Effect of Botryosphaeria berengeriana f.sp.piricola and Biocontrol Bacteria on the System of Antioxidant Enzymes in Pears

[Objective] The aim was to understand defense mechanism of pear after inoculated Botryosphaeria berengeriana f. sp. piricolan and mechanism of antioxidant enzymes of biocontrol bacteria. [Method] Pears were treated by Botryosphaeria berengeriana f. sp. piricolan and bio control bacteria, and the change of antioxidant enzymes were determined. [Result] The biocontrol bacteria had little effect on MDA;the content of MDA treated by B. berengeriana reached high peak in 48 h, was 10.22nmol/g which was 1.86 times of CK; the content of MDA treated by B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria reached high peak in 24 h, was 8.92 nmol/g which was1.62 times of CK. The content of SOD treated by biocontrol bacteria reached high peak in 48 h, was 126.69 U/[g（FW）·min] which was 1.54 times of CK; the contents of SOD treated by B. berengeriana as well as B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria reached high peak in 24 h, were 122.10 and 135.32 U/[g（FW）·min] which were 1.48 and 1.65 times of CK respectively; the contents of POD on biocontrol bacteria treatment, B. ana treatment as well as B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria treatment reached high peak in 24 h, were 385.34, 342.50 and 290.00 U/[g（FW）·min] which were 1.83, 1.62 and 1.38 times of CK respectively. The contents of CAT on biocontrol bacteria treatment, B. rengeriana treatment as well as B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria treatment reached high peak in 6 h, were 133.33,114.17 and 113.35 U/[g（FW）·min] which were 1.33, 1.14 and 1.13 times of CK respectively. The biocontrol bacteria had little difference in CK; the content of PPO of B. berengeriana treatment reached high peak in 12 h, was 81.86 U/[g（FW）·min]which was 1.76 times of CK; B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria treatment reached high peak in 24 h, was 70.00 U/[g（FW）·min] which was 1.50 times of CK.[Conclusion] B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria had more effect on MDA; both B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria could increase the excitation of SOD enzyme activity; both B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria could increase the excitation of POD enzyme activity; both B. berengeriana and biocontrol bacteria could increase the excitation of CAT enzyme activity; using biocontrol bacteria alone had not obvious effect on PPO, B. berengeriana could increase the excitation of PPO enzyme activity.

Protective Role of Ca Against NaCl Toxicity in Jerusalem Artichoke by Up-Regulation of Antioxidant Enzymes

The ameliorative effect of external Ca^2＋ on Jerusalem artichoke （Helianthus tuberosus L.） under salt stress was studied through biochemical and physiological analyses of Jerusalem artichoke seedlings treated with or without 10 mol L^-1 CaCl2, 150 mmol L^-1 NaCl, and/or 5 mmol L^-1 ethylene-bis（oxyethylenenitrilo）-tetraacetic acid （EGTA） for five days. Exposure to NaC1 （150 mmol L^-1） decreased growth, leaf chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic rate of Jerusalem artichoke seedlings. NaC1 treatment showed 59% and 37% higher lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage, respectively, than the control. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD）, and catalase （CAT） were decreased by NaCl, indicating an impeded antioxidant defense mechanism of Jerusalem artichoke grown under salt stress. Addition of 10 mmol L^-1 CaCl2 to the salt solutions significantly decreased the damaging effect of NaC1 on growth and chlorophyll content and simultaneously restored the rate of photosynthesis almost to the level of the control. Ca^2＋ addition decreased the leaf malondialdehyde （MDA） content and electrolyte leakage from NaCl-treated seedlings by 47% and 24%, respectively, and significantly improved the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT in NaCl-treated plants. Addition of EGTA, a specific chelator of Ca2＋, decreased the growth, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis, and increased level of MDA and electrolyte leakage from NaCl-treated plants and from the control plants. EGTA addition to the growth medium also repressed the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT in NaCl-treated and control seedlings. External Ca2＋ might protect Jerusalem artichoke against NaC1 stress by up-regulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes and thereby decreasing the oxidative stress.

Effects of insoluble Zn,Cd,and EDTA on the growth,activities of antioxidant enzymes and uptake of Zn and Cd in Vetiveria zizanioides

A root-bag experiment was conducted to study the effects of insoluble Zn, Cd, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid （EDTA） on the plant growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes, proline, glutathione （GSH）, water-soluble proteins and malondialdehyde （MDA） of Vetiveria zizanioides. The V. zizanioides uptake capacity of Zn and Cd also determined. The results showed that plant growth of V. zizanioides was inhibited by Zn and Cd. The shoot dry weight （SDW） and root dry weight （RDW） decrease by 14.2%, 14.1%, 17.0% and 17.3%, 32.5%, 35.7%, respectively, compared to the control without EDTA addition. After adding EDTA, shoot and root dry weight decreased over 10% and 15%, respectively. The toxicity from insoluble Zn and Cd in soil on SDW and RDW of V. zizanioides was in order： Zn＋Cd 〉 Cd 〉 Zn. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD） and catalase （CAT）, and contents of MDA and proline increased significantly, while the contents of GSH and water-soluble proteins decreased markedly with increasing Zn and Cd toxicity. With EDTA, shoot and root Zn concentrations increased in the Zn treatment by 7.3% and 37.4%, and Cd concentrations in the combined Zn and Cd treatment increased by 18.6% and 391.9% compared to the treatment without EDTA. However, Zn and Cd concentrations in shoot and roots decreased in the Cd treatment compared to the plants grown in absence of EDTA, with exception of root Cd concentration in the presence of EDTA.

Effects of melatonin on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat testis

Aim： To examine the effects of melatonin treatment on lipid peroxidation （LPO） and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the testicular tissue of streptozotocin （STZ）-induced diabetic rats. Methods： Twenty-six male rats were randomly divided into three groups as follows： group Ⅰ, control, non-diabetic rats （n = 9）; group Ⅱ, STZ-induced, untreated diabetic rats （n = 8）; group Ⅲ, STZ-induced, melatonin-treated （dose of 10 mg/kg·day） diabetic rats （n = 9）. Following 8-week melatonin treatment, all rats were anaesthetized and then were killed to remove testes from the scrotum. Results： As compared to group Ⅰ, in rat testicular tissues of grouap Ⅱ, increased levels of malondialdehyde （MDA） （P 〈 0.01） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） （P 〈 0.01） as well as, decreased levels of catalase （CAT） （P 〈 0.01） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） （P 〉 0.05） were found. In contrast, as compared to group Ⅱ, in rat testicular tissues of group Ⅲ, levels of MDA decreased （but this decrease was not significant, P 〉 0.05） and SOD （P 〈 0.01） as well as CAT （P 〈 0.05） increased. GSH-Px was not influenced by any of the treatment. Melatonin did not significantly affect the elevated glucose concentration of diabetic group. At the end of the study, there was no significant difference between the melatonin-treated group and the untreated group by means of body and testicular weight. Conclusion： Diabetes mellitus increases oxidative stress and melatonin inhibits lipid peroxidation and might regulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes of diabetic rat testes.

Effect of Alkali Stress on Soluble Sugar, Antioxidant Enzymes and Yield of Oat

Alkali stress can cause severe crop damage and reduce production. However, physiological processes involved in alkali stress in oat seedlings are not well understood. In this study, physiological responses and yield of oat to alkali stress were studied using the alkali-tolerant oat genotype Vao-9 and the alkali-sensitive oat genotype Baiyan 5. The results were： （i） low concentrations of alkali stress （25 and 50 mmol L^-1） significantly reduced the yield and grain weight while increased the oat grain number per spike. A negative correlation between yield and malondialdehyde （MDA） content at the jointing and grain filling stages and positive correlations between yield on one hand and superoxide dismutase （SOD）, and peroxidase （POD） activities on the other at the jointing stage were observed. There was a positive correlation between MDA and soluble sugar at the grain filling stage; （ii） soluble sugar content was increased at the jointing and grain filling stages and decreased at the heading stage by alkali stress; （iii） alkali stress increased the SOD activity during the heading and grain filling stages, and increased the POD activity at the heading stage. As compared to the control, the increase of MDA contents in alkali-treated oat was observed, during the jointing, heading and grain filling stages; （iv） under alkali stress, the oat genotype Vao-9 showed higher antioxidant enzyme activity and lower soluble sugar contents during the heading stage, and lower MDA contents than those in the oat genotype Baiyan 5 under alkali stress. The result suggested that the high ROS scavenging capacity and soluble sugar levels might play roles in oat response to alkali stress,

Cobalt and manganese stress in the microalga Pavlova viridis (Prymnesiophyceae):Effects on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes

Pollution of marine environment has become an issue of major concern in recent years. Serious environmental pollution by heavy metals results from their increasing utilization in industrial processes and because most heavy metals are transported into the marine environment and accumulated without decomposition. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects on growth, pigments, lipid peroxidation, and some antioxidant enzyme activities of marine microalga Pavlova viridis, in response to elevated concentrations of cobalt （Co） and manganese （Mn）, especially with regard to the involvement of antioxidative defences against heavy metal-induced oxidative stress. In response to Co^2＋, lipid peroxidation was enhanced compared to the control, as an indication of the oxidative damage caused by metal concentration assayed in the microalgal cells but not Mn^2＋. Exposure of Pavlova viridis to the two metals caused changes in enzyme activities in a different manner, depending on the metal assayed： after Co^2＋ treatments, total superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity was irregular, although it was not significantly affected by Mn^2＋ exposure. Co^2＋ and Mn^2＋ stimulated the activities of catalase （CAT） and glutathione （GSH）, whereas, glutathione peroxidase （GPX） showed a remarkable increase in activity in response to Co^2＋ treatments and decreased gradually with Mn^2＋ concentration, up to 50 μmol/L, and then rose very rapidly, reaching to about 38.98% at 200 μmol/L Mn^2＋. These results suggest that an activation of some antioxidant enzymes was enhanced, to counteract the oxidative stress induced by the two metals at higher concentration.

Hepatoprotective effects of Nigella sativa L and Urtica dioica L on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats

AIM： To investigate the effects of Nigella sativa 1 （NS） and Urtica dioica 1 （UD） on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats. METHODS： Fifty-six healthy male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The rats were randomly allotted into one of the four experimental groups： A （CCl4-only treated）, B （CCl4＋UD treated）, C （CCl4＋NS treated） and D （CCl4＋UD＋NS treated）, each containing 14 animals. All groups received CCl4 （0.8 mL/kg of body weight, sc, twice a week for 60 d）. In addition, B, C and D groups also received daily i.p. injections of 0.2 mL/kg NS or/and 2 mL/kg UD oils for 60 d. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 mL/kg normal saline solution for 60 d. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from randomly chosen-seven rats in each treatment group at beginning and on the 60th d of the experiment. RESULTS： The CCl4 treatment for 60 d increased the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and also decreased the antioxidant enzyme levels. NS or UD treatment （alone or combination） for 60 d decreased the elevated lipid peroxidation and liver enzyme levels and also increased the reduced antioxidant enzyme levels. The weight of rats decreased in group A, and increased in groups B, C and D. CONCLUSION： NS and UD decrease the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and increase the antioxidant defense system activity in the CCl4-treated rats.

Effects of osmotic stress on antioxidant enzymes activities in leaf discs of P_(SAG12)-IPT modified gerbera

Leaf senescence is often caused by water deficit and the chimeric gene PSA612-1PT is an auto-regulated gene delaying leaf senescence. Using in vitro leaf discs culture system, the changes of contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, soluble protein and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance （TBARS） and antioxidant enzymes activities were investigated during leaf senescence of PSA612-1PT modified gerbera induced by osmotic stress compared with the control plant （wild type）. Leaf discs were incubated in 20%, 40% （w/v） polyethylene glycol （PEG） 6 000 nutrient solution for 20 h under continuous light [ 130 μmol/（m^2·s）]. The results showed that the contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids and soluble protein were decreased by osmotic stress with the decrease being more pronounced at 40% PEG, but that, at the same PEG concentration the decrease in the transgenic plants was significantly lower than that in the control plant. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalases （CAT）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX）, guaiacol peroxidase （GPX） and dehydroascorbate reductase （DHAR） were stimulated by PEG treatment. However, the increases were higher in PSA612-IPT transgenic plants than in the control plants, particularly at 40% PEG treatment. Lipid peroxidation （TBARS content） was increased by PEG treatment with the increase being much lower in transgenic plant than in the control plant. It could be concluded that the increases in the activities ofantioxidant enzymes including SOD, CAT, APX, GPX and DHAR were responsible for the delay of leaf senescence induced by osmotic stress.

Effects of Exogenous Silicon on the Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in Chilling-Stressed Cucumber Leaves

In order to increase vegetable productivity by improving environmental conditions, this article investigates the effects of exogenous silicon on the activities of major antioxidant enzymes and on lipid peroxidation under chilling stress, and it examines whether silicon-induced chilling tolerance is mediated by an increase in antioxidant activity. Cucumis sativus cv. Jinchun 4 was hydroponically cultivated to the two-leaf stage, at which point seedlings were watered with different concentrations of silicon (0, 0.1 and 1 mmol L^-1) and separately exposed to normal (25/18℃) or chilling (15/8℃) temperatures for six days under low light (100μmol m^-2 s^-9. Data were collected from the second leaves on the percentage of withering and the levels of endogenous silicon, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H202), superoxide radical (O2^.-), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.1.9), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (AsA). Compared to normal temperatures, chilling resulted in partially withered leaves and increased MDA content. When 0.1 or 1 mmol L^-1 exogenous silicon was combined with chilling, the withering of the cucumber leaves was reduced relative to the original chilling treatment, while the endogenous silicon content was increased, antioxidants such as SOD, GSH-Px, APX, MDHAR, GR, GSH, and AsA were more active, and the levels of H2O2, O2^.-, and MDA were lower. We propose that exogenous silicon leads to greater deposition of endogenous silicon and thereby increases antioxidant activities and reduces lipid peroxidation induced by chilling.

Effects of High Temperature on Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in Flag Leaves of Wheat During Grain Filling Period

On the basis of the phytotron, the effects of high temperature （daily average temperature 25, 30, 35 and 40℃, respectively） on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in flag leaves of wheat at 50% relative air moisture during grain fastest filling stage [19-21 days after anthesis （DAA）] were studied. The wheat cultivars tested were Yangmai 9 with weak-gluten and Yangmai 12 with medium-gluten. Compared with 25℃, the higher the temperature was, the higher was the MDA content in flag leaves, while lower were the SOD, POD, and CAT activities. SOD and CAT activities in Yangmai 12 appeared to be more sensitive to high temperature than that in Yangmai 9. But POD activity in Yangmai 12 was less sensitive to high temperature. MDA content in Yangmai 12 was higher than that in Yangmai 9. The 1000-grain weight declined with increase in temperature.

Responses of Antioxidant Enzymes to Chilling Stress in Tobacco Seedlings

Chilling is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting yield and quality of many important crops. For better understanding of chilling stress responses in tobacco （Nicotiana tabacum）, growth rate and antioxidant enzymes of seedlings in 2 tobacco cultivars, viz., MSk326 （chilling sensitive variety） and Honghuadajinyuan （HHDJY, chilling tolerant variety） at chilling temperature （5℃） were studied. The results showed that the relative growth rate in chilling period to that in recovery period was significantly higher in roots than that in shoots for both cultivars, suggesting that shoots growth was more easily affected by chilling stress. Chilling stress increased peroxidase （POD） activity and reduced superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity in shoots of HHDJY, and catalase （CAT） activity was little affected. In the roots of HHDJY, chilling stress increased SOD and CAT activities, and had little effect on POD activity. For MSk326, chilling treatment increased SOD activity in shoots and declined CAT activity in roots. MDA concentration in both varieties was increased under the chilling stress, while it was decreased after seedlings were recovered growth for 4 d at normal temperature （25℃）. It showed that tobacco seedlings might have the capacity of recovering from chilling injury for a short term, The relationship between the growth rate and antioxidant enzyme activity was analyzed by stepwise regression. It was found that there was a close relationship between relative growth rate of tobacco seedlings and CAT activity under chilling stress condition and regression equations containing CAT could be used in predicting seedling growth rate of tobacco under chilling stress condition.

Effect of Benzo[a]pyrene on Detoxification and the Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes of Marine Microalgae

The objective of this study was to examine the effect ofbenzo[a]pyrene （BaP） on the detoxification and antioxidant systems of two microalgae, Isochrysis zhanjiangensis and Platymonas subcordiformis. In our study, these two algae were exposed to BaP for 4 days at three different concentrations including 0.5 μg L-1 （low）, 3 μg L-1 （mid） and 18 μg L-1 （high）. The activity of detoxi- fication enzymes, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase （EROD） and glutathione S-transferase （GST） increased in P subcordiformis in all BaP-treated groups. In 1. zhanjiangensis, the activity of these two enzymes increased at the beginning of exposure, and then de- creased in the groups treated with mid- and high BaP. The activity of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase （SOD） increased in/. zhanjiangensis in all BaP-treated groups, and then decreased in high BaP-treated group, while no significant change was observed in P subcordiformis. The activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase （CAT） increased in I. zhanjiangensis and P subcordiformis in all BaP- treated groups. The content of malondialdehyde （MDA） in Isochrysis zhanjiangensis increased first, and then decreased in high BaP-treated group, while no change occurred in P. subcordiformis. These results demonstrated that BaP significantly influenced the activity of detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes in microalgae. The metabolic related enzymes （EROD, GST and CAT） may serve as sensitive biomarkers of measuring the contamination level of BaP in marine water.

Effects of dietary menadione on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino

A 240-day growth experiment in a re-circulating water system was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary menadione on the growth and antioxidant responses of abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino. Triplicate groups of juvenile abalone (initial weight: 1.19 ± 0.01 g; shell length: 19.23 ± 0.01 mm) were fed to satiation with 3 semi-purified diets containing 0, 10, and 1 000 mg menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB)/kg, respectively. Results show that there were no significant differences in the rate of weight gain or in the daily increment in shell length of abalone among different treatments. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) in viscera were significantly decreased with dietary menadione. However, activities of these enzymes except for GPX in muscle were increased. Therefore, antioxidant responses of abalone were increased in muscle and decreased in viscera by dietary menadione.

The Study on the Effects of Chinese Herbal Mixtures on Growth,Activity of Post-Ruminal Digestive Enzymes and Serum Antioxidant Status of Beef Cattle

Sixteen Limousin×Luxi crossbred beef cattle [（199.4±8.67） kg] were used to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures （CHM） on growth, activities of post-ruminal digestive enzymes and serum antioxidant status of beef cattle. Treatments were control （no CHM supplementation） and three formulations of CHM （CHM-A, CHM-B and CHM-C） that were arranged as completely randomized design. The calves were fed in indoor individual feeding barn with total mixed ration for 90 d. The CHM-A, CHM-B, and CHM-C was incorporated into the diet at the level of 20 g kg-1 DM （dry matter） of concentrate. The cattle were weighted at the beginning, at the end and every 15 d between to determine growth rate. Blood sample was taken every 30 d to analyze activities of total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-PX） and concentration of malondialdehyde （MDA）. The cattle were slaughtered at the end of experiment and chymus samples from various section of the post-ruminal digestive tract were collected to analyze enzymes activities. All cattle had similar average daily gain, but cattle supplemented with CHM-A tended faster growth （P=0.08） compared to the control and other CHM treatments. Supplementation of CHM did not affect pH of chymus in any section of the post-ruminal digestive tract. Activities of pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase in chymus samples were enhanced （P0.05） to various extents by supplementation of CHM-A, CHM-B, and CHM-C depending on the enzymes and the site of the digestive tract. Amylase activity was increased only by CHM-A and CHM-C from chymus sample collected at the ileum. Supplementation of CHM-A and CHM-B reduced （P0.05） concentration of MDA, but did not affect GSH-PX activity in the serum of cattle throughout the entire experimental period. Cattle supplemented with CHM-B also had higher （P0.05） T-SOD activity in the serum at day 30 and 60 as compared with the control and the other two CHM treatments. Chinese herbal mixtures supplemented at the levels of 20 g kg-1 DM of concentrate increased post-ruminal digestive enzymes activity and enhanced serum antioxidant status. Inclusion of CHM-A and CHM-B in the diet may be favourable for ruminant production.

Photosynthesis, chilling acclimation and the response of antioxidant enzymes to chilling stress in mulberry seedlings

This study investigates the effects of cold-acclimation in conferring chilling tolerance in seedlings of the mulberry(Morus alba) variety ‘Qiuyu’. Changes in photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes in chilling acclimatized(CA), and non-acclimatized(NA) seedlings were recorded during chilling stress(3 °C) and a recovery period(25 °C) each for 3 days. The results showed that CA plants had higher net photosynthetic rates(P_n), stomatal conductance(G_s), and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem Ⅱ(F_v/F_m) in response to chilling stress compared to NA. The seedlings maintained the same trends during the recovery stage. The responses of Q_A reduction degree (1-q_P) and prime electronic transfer rates(F_o) were lower in acclimatized than in non-acclimatized seedlings. Low-temperature acclimation and chilling stress also caused an increase in leaf proline and soluble sugar contents. Leaf malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower while ascorbate peroxidase(APX) activity was significantly higher in acclimatized seedlings, suggesting that elevated osmolytes and APX confer resistance to chilling temperatures. In this study on the response of mulberry seedlings to chilling stress, we also looked at the recovery process. The response to chilling determines whether mulberry leaves can survive under cold temperatures, while the recovery process determines whether photosynthesis can recover as soon as possible to avoid any secondary damage.

Combined Effects of Excess Mn and Low pH on Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Enzymes in Cucumber Roots

The effects of excess Mn on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in cucumber roots under different pH （pH 4.5 and 6.5） were studied. The results indicated that lipid peroxidation was increasingly serious with the increased concentration of Mn, especially under low pH. As a result, the growth of cucumber roots and shoots was significantly inhibited. Excess Mn led to an elevation in activities of Mn-SOD and Fe-SOD, which played an important role in removing O2^-. CAT was sensitive to excess Mn, and its activity significantly decreased under excess Mn and low pH, while activities of GPX, APX, DHAR and GR increased under low pH and to some extent under excess Mn, which indicated their important roles in scavenging reactive oxygen in tolerance to low pH and excess Mn of cucumber roots.

Effects of Barium Stress in Brassica juncea and Cakile maritima:The Indicator Role of Some Antioxidant Enzymes and Secondary Metabolites

Soil contamination by toxic trace metal elements,like barium(Ba),may stimulate various undesirable changes in the metabolic activity of plants.The plant responses are fast and with,direct or indirect,generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS).To cope with the stress imposed by the ROS production,plants developed a dual cellular system composed of enzymatic and non-enzymatic players that convert ROS,and their by-products,into stable nontoxic molecules.To assess the Ba stress response of two Brassicaceae species(Brassica juncea,a glycophyte,and Cakile maritime,a halophyte),plants were exposure to different Ba concentrations(0,100,200,300 and 500µM).The plants response was evaluated through their morphology and development,the determination of plant leaves antioxidant enzymatic activities and by the production of plants secondary metabolites.Results indicated that the two Brassicaceae species have the ability to survive in an environment containing Ba(even at 500µM).The biomass production of C.maritima was slightly affected whereas an increase in biomass B.juncea was noticed.The stress imposed by Ba activated the antioxidant defense system in the two species,noticed by the changes in the leaves activity of catalase(CAT),ascorbate peroxidase(APX)and guaicol peroxidase(GPX),and of the secondary metabolites,through the production of total phenols and flavonoids.The enzymatic response was not similar within the two plant species:CAT and APX seem to have a more important role against the oxidative stress in C.maritima while in B.juncea is GPX.Overall,total phenols and flavonoids production was more significant in the plants aerial part than in the roots,of the both species.Although the two Brassicaceae species response was different,in both plants catalytic and non-catalytic transformation of ROS occurs,and both were able to overcome the Ba toxicity and prevent the cell damage.