Studies on the effect of Cu (II) ions on the antioxidant enzymes in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars

Seed is a developmental stage that is highly protective against external stresses in the plant life cycle. Present study was undertaken with the aim to elucidate the toxic effect of Cu (II) ions on the antioxidant enzymes in chickpea cultivars during seed development and growth. Seven-day-old seedlings were subjected to different concentrations (0-100 ppm) of CuSO4*7H2O for 2 days followed by analysis of effect on different antioxidant enzymes. Our results indicated that with the increase in the Cu ion concentration, the antioxidant activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase showed a differential behavioral pattern. Besides the antioxidant activity, the toxic affect was also observed in other physiological parameters viz. root/shoot length, RWC and lipid peroxidation. This study indicates that the toxicity of Cu stress is dependent on the physiological state of tissue surrounding the embryo is in part responsible for determining the toxicity.