E. Reyes et Ph. Jennings, EFFECTS OF CHILLING ON RESPIRATION AND INDUCTION OF CYANIDE-RESISTANTRESPIRATION IN SEEDLING ROOTS OF CUCUMBER, Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 122(2), 1997, pp. 190-194
The effects of chilling stress on respiration and induction of the alt
ernative pathway (AP) were investigated with roots of 3-day-old cucumb
er seedlings (Cucrcmis sativus L.) grown at 26 degrees C and then chil
led at 2, 10, or 15 degrees C for 24, 48, 96, 144, or 192 hours. Oxyge
n uptake by roots exposed to 2 degrees C was significantly lower than
by 10 or 15 degrees C-treated roots, and the inhibition of oxygen upta
ke in the presence of SHAM (salicylhydroxamic acid) increased from 29%
in unchilled tissue to 60% after 96 hours of treatment. At 10 and 15
degrees C, the capacity of the AP was nearly double that of the unchil
led control and the 2 degrees C-treated seedlings. A 24 hours, postchi
lling treatment at 26 degrees C resulted in greater oxygen uptake at a
ll temperatures as treatment time increased up to 96 hours. At 2 degre
es C, the capacity of the AP was significantly reduced below the level
of the 10 and 15 degrees C-treated tissue and the untreated control.
The activity of the AP became fully activated by 96 hours in roots chi
lled at 2 degrees C. Results suggest that the capacity of the AP can b
e affected by low-temperature treatments, and exposure to 2 degrees C
for up to 96 hours leads to a significant loss in capacity of the AP.