Wound-induced Oxidative Responses in Mountain Birch Leaves

• Aims The aim of the study was to examine oxidative responses in subarctic mountain birch, Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii , induced by herbivory and manual wounding. • Methods Herbivory-induced changes in polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and catalase activities in birch leaves were determined. A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of Botany
Main Authors: RUUHOLA, TEIJA, YANG, SHIYONG
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2005
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Online Access:http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/mcj005v1
https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcj005
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Summary:• Aims The aim of the study was to examine oxidative responses in subarctic mountain birch, Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii , induced by herbivory and manual wounding. • Methods Herbivory-induced changes in polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and catalase activities in birch leaves were determined. A cytochemical dye, 3,3-diaminobenzidine, was used for the in situ and in vivo detection of H 2 O 2 accumulation as a response to herbivory and wounding. To localize peroxidase activity in leaves, 10 mM H 2 O 2 was applied to the dye reagent. • Key Results Feeding by autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata , larvae caused an induction in polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities within 24 h, and a concomitant decrease in the activity of antioxidative catalases in wounded leaves. Wounding also induced H 2 O 2 accumulation, which may have both direct and indirect defensive properties against herbivores. Wound sites and guard cells showed a high level of peroxidase activity, which may efficiently restrict invasion by micro-organisms. • Conclusion Birch oxidases together with their substrates may form an important front line in defence against herbivores and pathogens.