Antioxidative response to copper-induced stress in Cicer arietinum L

Roots of hydroponically cultured Cicer arietinum plants were used to examine the activity levels of antioxidative enzymes and contents of non-enzymatic ROS scavengers when plants were subjected to increasing levels of Cu (0, 50, 100 and 200 ppm) treatment for 4 days after 10 days of germination. Results indicated induced activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) in Cu-stressed plants. Treatment with Cu at 200 ppm induced five-fold increase in SOD and about two-fold increase in POD activities as compared to controls. However, 200 ppm Cu caused reduction in catalase activity to about 52%. Treatment of seedlings with Cu resulted in increased levels of non-enzymatic ROS scavengers, ascorbate and proline that showed about 82% and 89% increased levels, respectively at 200 ppm Cu treatment as compared to the levels in untreated controls.