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Waterlogging influences the physiology index and antioxidant enzyme activity in Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata

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Abstract

Waterlogging is one of the major environmental challenges that can adversely impact squash growth, development, and productivity. Nevertheless, studies on the physiological changes of squash to waterlogging stress are scarce. Previously, we reported that the Cucurbita moschata (Cmo) Early Price (Ep) cultivar showed higher chlorophyll content (CC) and spectral reflectance compared to the Cucurbita maxima (Cma) OK-101 (Ok) cultivar after waterlogging. In the present work, we further examined more physiological parameters in eight cultivars of Cmo and Cma, and studied whether these non-destructive indices could efficiently identify various waterlogging-tolerant genotypes and were consistent with visual evaluations. Moreover, we investigated the effects of waterlogging on the antioxidant system of cucurbit species, and evaluated dynamic changes occurring in these plants during varying waterlog periods by determining physiological characteristics. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed a significant increase in Ep plant leaves and roots after 72 h and 6 h of waterlogging, respectively, compared to Ok plants. In addition, Ep exhibited a higher tolerance to waterlogging than Ok in terms of enhanced root length, values in CC, spectral reflectance, and APX and SOD activity, plus decreased levels of electrolyte leakage, 2,2‑diphenyl‑1‑picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and hydrogen peroxide levels. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the physiological variations in response to waterlogging stress and can potentially be used to breed cucurbit species with waterlogging tolerance for a wetter future climate.

題目: 淹水逆境對中國南瓜(Cucurbita maxima)與西洋南瓜(Cucurbita moschata)的生理指標和抗氧化酵素活性之影響 摘要: 淹水逆境是南瓜生長與發育過程中主要的環境挑戰之一，其對南瓜的生長、發育和產量有負面的影響。然而，關於南瓜在淹水逆境下的生理反應的研究甚少。我們之前曾發表一項研究，係利用葉綠素含量與反射光譜讀值評估中國南瓜(Cucurbita moschata）與西洋南瓜(Cucurbita maxima)對淹水逆境的耐受性。在本研究中，我們進一步利用更多的生理指標，針對八種中國南瓜與西洋南瓜進行耐淹水能力測試，並探討這些非破壞性指標是否與外表型性狀吻合，以及是否能有效鑑別不同耐淹水能力的基因型。此外，我們還測試淹水逆境對南瓜抗氧化系統的影響，並且通過測定生理特性，評估在不同淹水逆境期間，南瓜所發生的動態變化。結果顯示，在淹水逆境處理後，中國南瓜「吉祥」 (Early Price)具有比西洋南瓜「Ok」 (OK-101)更長的根、更高的葉綠素含量與反射光譜讀值、較高的抗壞血酸過氧化酶與超氧化物歧化酶活性、較高的自由基清除率，並有較低的離子滲漏率與過氧化氫含量。這些結果顯示，中國南瓜「吉祥」對淹水逆境表現出較高的耐受性。本研究的成果不僅揭示南瓜在淹水逆境下的生理變化，未來還可以用於加速南瓜耐淹水品種的培育。

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The data that supports the findings of this study are contained within the article and available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan, grant number MOST-111-2313-B-005-054.

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  1. Kuan-Hung Lin, Shi-Peng Chen have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticulture and Biotechnology, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, 11114, Taiwan

    Kuan-Hung Lin, Shi-Peng Chen, Yi-Ru Su & Yi-Heng Tsai

  2. Department of Agronomy, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 40227, Taiwan

    Hsin-Hung Lin

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Contributions

Conceptualization, HHL and KHL; methodology, SPC; validation, HHL; investigation, YRS and YHT; resources, HHL and KHL; data curation, HHL and SPC; writing-original draft preparation, HHL, KHL and SPC; writing-review and editing, HHL, KHL and SPC; supervision, HHL; funding acquisition, HHL and KHL. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Lin, KH., Chen, SP., Su, YR. et al. Waterlogging influences the physiology index and antioxidant enzyme activity in Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 65, 43–55 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-023-00552-9

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