Alterations in the porphyrin biosynthesis and antioxidant responses to chilling and heat stresses in Oryza sativa

Roles of an altered porphyrin biosynthesis and antioxidants in protection against chilling and heat stresses were evaluated in rice (Oryza sativa L.). When exposed to the same exposure time (6 or 30 h), heat-stressed (45 °C) plants exhibited a less oxidative stress as indicated by a lower dehydration, ion leakage, and H2O2 production compared to chilling-stressed (4 °C) plants. Malondialdehyde production also increased after a mild chilling stress, whereas it increased only after a long-term heat stress. The content of protoporphyrin IX, Mg-protoporphyrin IX and its methyl ester, and protochlorophyllide drastically declined under both the stresses, particularly under the long-term heat stress. Greater increases in catalase and peroxidase activities in heat-stressed plants indicate more cofactors supplied for hemoproteins compared to those of chilling-stressed and untreated control plants. Intermediates of carotenoid biosynthesis, zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin, also increased under the chilling and heat stresses. In comparison to chilling-stressed plants, heat-stressed plants were more efficient in porphyrin scavenging and antioxidant enzyme responses, which may play crucial roles in plant protection under temperature stress, thereby suffering less from oxidative stress.