Influence of long-term cold stress on enzymatic antioxidative defense system in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abiotic stresses such as cold, heat, and drought are the main causes of universal crop losses. Plants have generated adaptive responses which prevent them from oxidative damage caused by environmental stresses. The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of cold stress on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity in the leaves of eight cultivars / advanced lines of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Three-week-old plantlets were subjected to cold stress (0 degrees C) for 24 or 48 hours. Selected antioxidant enzyme activity and oxidative status of chickpea plantlets under cold stress were determined. In most genotypes, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were increased and guaiacol peroxidase activity decreased under stress conditions but the activity of superoxide dismutase remained almost constant. Based on its ranking, Cicer arietinum 'Saral', a newly released cold-resistant Iranian chickpea cultivar, had the strongest, and FLIP 05-77C had the weakest antioxidative defense system under low temperature stress.