Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) plants were transformed with the desA gene encoding Δ12 acyl-lipid desaturase in the cyanobacterium Synechocystissp. PCC 6803. To evaluate the efficiency of this gene...

Effects of sugars on the development of hypothermia-induced oxidative stress were studied in leaves of two potato genotypes (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Désirée): with normal carbohydrate metabolism and a genotype with increased sugar content modified by insertion of yeast-derived invertase gene. It was found that generation of proceeds more actively in transformed plants than in control plants. On the contrary H₂O₂ concentration and the catalese and peroxidase activities were lower. At the same time, the activities of superoxide dismutase were similar in plants of both genotypes. A short-term incubation of plants at −7°C confirmed that a higher freezing tolerance of transformed plants was due to low-molecular-weight components of antioxidant protection system rather than to enzymatic component. Literature data and experimental results suggest that the protective effect of sugars is caused by their ability to scavenge ROS nonspecifically under stress conditions

A comparative analysis of available data suggests that metal and metal oxide nanoparticles widely used in plant physiology participate in the regulation of pro-/antioxidant balance in higher plants. The dual role of nanoparticles is shown: on the one hand, they act as triggers of oxidative stress and, on the other hand, they can counteract stress development and improve the efficiency of the plant’s antioxidant system. Under abiotic stress conditions, nanoparticles can act as adaptogens, thus enhancing the antioxidant defense of plants. Possible mechanisms of nanoparticle action, as well as the prospects for their application in fundamental science and agriculture are discussed.