Changes in Certain Antioxidative Enzymes and Growth Parameters as a Result of Complete Submergence and Subsequent Re-aeration of Rice Cultivars Differing in Submergence Tolerance

An experiment was conducted on the three indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars IR 42, CR 383-10 and FR 13A, which are susceptible to submergence, submergence-avoiding and tolerant to submergence, respectively. A deleterious effect of submergence was noted as both above-ground dry matter accumulation and chlorophyll content decreased during submergence and subsequent re-aeration. However, the rate of reduction was lower in the tolerant cultivar. The tolerant cultivar FR 13A maintained higher dry weight during submergence and subsequent re-aeration and accumulated lower proline and malondialdehyde contents than the other cultivars. The activities of the enzymes catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, expressed on a per g fresh weight of leaves basis, were higher in FR 13A than in the other cultivars, both under water and 24 h after the initiation of re-aeration. However, ascorbic acid oxidase activity was lower in FR 13A. The cultivar CR 383-10, which has the capacity to accumulate more aboveground dry matter under normal conditions, showed a greater elongation ability under submergence and was similar to the susceptible cultivar IR 42 in terms of enzyme activities and the other parameters investigated during submergence and subsequent reaeration.