Physiological stress indicators in seagrasses

Abstract

We investigated the combined effects of several environmental stressors in the biochemical defence mechanisms of the intertidal seagrass Zostera noltii and the subtidal seagrasses Zostera marina and Cymodocea nodosa in Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (southern Portugal). During one year Z. noltii was sampled for antioxidant enzymes activity, pigments, soluble protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) in both neap and spring tides. Intertidal seagrasses are periodically exposed to potentially stressful conditions such as desiccation, osmotic stress, high light and very high or freezing temperatures, depending on the season, latitude and tidal amplitude. In Ria Formosa Z. marina and C. nodosa appear frequently in the same meadow and compete for space, light and nutrients. These species are also exposed to stressful environmental conditions such as light or temperature stress and their survival depends on their relative ability to cope with all these stressors. In order to study the effects of low light in Z. marina and C. nodosa, four different levels of shading were imposed on field plots of both species during three weeks. P-I relationships were determined and samples were collected to determine photosynthetic pigments, non-structural carbohydrates, soluble protein, phenols and malondialdehyde concentration. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed as a normal part of the plants metabolism. An increment on ROS formation is a common response to stress and can induce several types of damage, namely lipid peroxidation. MDA is a product of the peroxidation of membrane lipids and thus is commonly used as an indicator of oxidative stress, as is the concentration of phenolic compounds. Carotenoids and antioxidant enzymes are part of the plants’ antioxidative system. Higher content of carotenoids, besides amplifying the photosynthetic useful wavelengths, indicate higher photoprotection. Increased activities of ROS scavenging enzymes are correlated with stress tolerance. The relationships among experimental and environmental data will be discussed.