Role of catalase in inducing chilling tolerance in pre-emergent maize seedlings

The mechanisms of chilling acclimation and the role of antioxidant enzymes, catalase in particular, in inducing chilling tolerance in pre-emergent maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings have been investigated. Seedlings were acclimated to chilling stress in two different ways. Three-day-old seedlings did not survive 7 d of 4 degrees C stress unless acclimated by exposure to either 14 degrees C for 1 d or 4 degrees C for 1 d followed by recovery at 27 degrees C for 1 d. Although no changes in superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were observed, both kinds of acclimated seedlings had higher catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase, and guaiacol peroxidase activities compared with nonacclimated seedlings during low-temperature stress and recovery conditions. To study the role of CAT in chilling tolerance, aminotriazole (AT) was used as a tool to artificially inhibit CAT activity and to initiate oxidative stress in the seedlings. Treatment of acclimating seedlings with 3 mM AT for 18 h abolished the acclimation phenomenon. AT treatment was found to be specific to CAT inhibition, because the total activities or isozyme profiles of the other investigated antioxidant enzymes were not altered in AT-treated seedlings. Protein carbonyl content, an indication of oxidative damage, was increased 2-fold in nonacclimated and AT-treated acclimated seedlings. These results collectively indicate that acclimation to prolonged chilling stress can be achieved by briefly pre-exposing the seedlings to 4 degrees C chilling stress and that acclimation-induced (oxidative stress-induced) CAT seems to play a major role, probably along with other antioxidant enzymes, in inducing chilling tolerance in pre-emergent maize seedlings.