Antioxidant enzyme activity in response to iron and copper in Cuminum cyminum L.

In this study, the interaction between iron and copper on growth parameters (plant height, fresh weight of roots, stem’s length, fresh weight of shoots, fresh and dry weight of seeds), total proteins and the antioxidant enzymes activity in Cuminum cyminum L. were investigated. This experiment was carried out in completely randomized blocks with 9 treatments in 3 repetitions. Plants were treated with Fe fertilizer (0, 3, 6 kgh-1) together with CuSO4, 5H2O (0, 100, 200 µM). Maximum level of stem length and shoot fresh weight was observed in Fe3Cu100. In the treatment of Fe6Cu100, root weight was significantly increased. Fresh and dry weights of seeds were significantly increased under Fe3 treatment. High concentration of Fe fertilizer with low concentration of CuSO4 decreased catalase and peroxidase enzymes activities. However, by increasing concentration of Cu in both Fe levels, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase was decreased.