EFFECT OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE TREATMENT OF VICIA-FABA ROOTS ON THE OXIDATIVE STRESS ENZYMES IN LEAVES

The following types of superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been found in t he leaves of Vicia faba: one isoenzyme of Mn-SOD and four isoenzymes o f Cu/Zn-SOD. The treatments of roots with boiling water caused an incr ease of SOD activity in the leaves. The highest increase was measured after 5 s of the treatment. It was accompanied by a significant increa se in catalase activity; Analysis of cell fractions' revealed an incre ase of SOD activity in the plastids and mitochondria isolated from the leaves of those plants whose roots were heat-treated. However, there was no distinct change of SOD activity in the cytosolic fraction. The possibility of an electric wave intervention inducing oxidative stress in the leaves is discussed.