Cytogenetic and biochemical effects induced by the treatment with ascorbic acid and citric acid on Picea abies (L.) Karst.

This paper present the influence of ascorbic acid and citric acid upon the mitotic division, and to the activity of some antioxidant enzymes to Picea abies (L.) Karst. The treatment was made through the germination of seeds in ascorbic acid and citric acid. We observed the stimulator or inhibitor effect of ascorbic acid and citric acid to the mitotic index and estimated the aberrations appearance. Comparative the control, the mitotic index increased at 0.1 % concentration ascorbic acid and decreased at 0.25 % and 0.5 % concentration of the same substance. The citric acid induced a decrease in the dynamics of mitotic index comparative the control. Also, we observed an increase of aberrations appearance to the treatment with citric acid. We established the activity of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and the influence of ascorbic acid and citric acid to the activity of these antioxidant enzymes. After statistical interpretation emerged that these substances (except 0.25 % ascorbic acid) induced an inhibition of catalase activity and a stimulation of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity.