Role of antioxidant defense system and biochemical adaptation on stress tolerance of high mountain and steppe plants

Keleş, Yüksel

Eleven species were collected from Northwest Anatolian mountains (1500–2000 m) and 18 species were collected from the Central Anatolian steppes (850–1000 m) in June 1998 and 1999. In all the species investigated, the water and dry matter percentages and solute contents were measured. The chlorophyll, b-carotene, ascorbate and a-tocopherol contents and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) andglutathione reductase (GR)enzymeactivities oftheplants werealsodetermined.Thesteppeplantshadlowerwatercontentcomparedwith alpine plants. The chlorophyll contents of the plants investigated did not change with altitude. However, the carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio of alpine plants was found to be significantly higher. The antioxidant/chlorophyll ratio of the trees and shrubs was higher than that of he...