Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide on Cold-Induced Oxidative Damage in Cucumis sativus L

One of the major abiotic stresses limiting the productivity and the geographical distribution of many important crops is low temperature. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important signaling molecule involved in several stress-resistance processes such as drought, salinity and heavy metal stresses in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous H2S on improving chilling tolerance of cucumber seedlings. The results indicated that seedlings exposed to chilling stress (4 ºC) increased the level of electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, proline content and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity; while sugar soluble content decreased. Pretreatment with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a hydrogen sulfide donor, slightly reduced the malondialdehyde content, hydrogen peroxide content and electrolyte leakage, which were induced by chilling stress and also elevated the activity of antioxidant enzymes, soluble sugar and proline levels, and reduced glutathione content in plants under chilling stress condition. Pre-treatment with other Na+ and sulfur-containing components including Na2S, Na2SO4, Na2SO3 showed no significant effect on lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content under chilling stress. It can be concluded that the effect of NaHS pretreatment on alleviation of cold stress damages is probably related to its ability to release H2S because Na+- or sulfur-containing compounds (except NaHS) had no similar effects on alleviation of chilling damages.