Induction of drought stress tolerance by ketoconazole in Catharanthus roseus is mediated by enhanced antioxidant potentials and secondary metabolite accumulation.
A pot culture experiment was conducted to estimate the drought stress mitigating effect of ketoconazole (KCZ), a fungicide cum plant growth regulator, in Catharanthus roseus plants. The plants under pot culture were subjected to drought stress and drought stress with KCZ from 30 days after sowing (DAS) and regular irrigation was kept as control. Antioxidant contents and activities of antioxidant enzymes were estimated from root, stem and leaf of both control and treated plants. The alkaloid ajmalicine was extracted and estimated from the roots of control, drought stressed and KCZ treated plants. Individual and combined drought stress and KCZ treatments increased ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol contents, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities when compared to control. There was a significant enhancement in ajmalicine production under KCZ treated plants under drought stress when compared to well watered control as well as drought stressed plants. The KCZ treatment resulted in partial mitigation of drought stress by increasing the antioxidant potentials in C. roseus plants.
Jaleel
C Abdul
CA
Stress Physiology Lab, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608002, Tamilnadu, India. abdul79jaleel@rediffmail.com
Manivannan
P
P
Sankar
B
B
Kishorekumar
A
A
Gopi
R
R
Somasundaram
R
R
Panneerselvam
R
R
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D030008:Catharanthus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids; C005709:raubasine; D010544:Peroxidases; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D007654:Ketoconazole