Senna obtusifolia L., a common weed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, is able to germinate under adverse environmental conditions, suggesting that this species has efficient stress-adaptation strategies. The aims of the present work were to examine the energy metabolism and the antioxidant defense system of the Senna obtusifolia L. during seed germination and initial growth, and the responses to allelochemical-induced stress. Respiratory activity, the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT),guaicol peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), lipoxygenase (LOX) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSSG and GSH) were measured. Shortly after seed imbibition, mitochondrial respiratory activity was active and the presence of SOD, CAT, GR and LOX activity in embryos, along with significant KCN-insensitive respiration, indicated that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is initiated as soon as mitochondrial respiration resumes. Among the fourteen allelochemicals assayed, only coumarin significantly supressed the growth of S. obtusifolia seedlings. Although coumarin reduced the activities of CAT, POD and APX, the GSH, GSSG and MDA levels were not altered. Alpha-pinene, quercetin and ferulic acid did not modify the activity of the antioxidant enzymes or the contents of GSH, GSSH and MDA. Thus the antioxidant defense system of S. obstusifolia may be effective in counteracting the harmful effects of ROS generated during seed germination and initial growth in the presence of toxic allelochemicals.
Keywords: Allelopathy; Antioxidants; Ascorbate; Catalase; Germination; Glutathione; Oxidative stress; Peroxidase; Reactive oxygen species; Respiration; Sicklepod.