Oxidative damage and defense mechanisms in primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris as a result of root assimilation of toxic amounts of copper

We studied the sequence of several metabolic reactions, representative for oxidative damage and protection, in primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris (cv. Limburgse vroege) as a function of root assimilation of a toxic sublethal Cu concentration (630 μ M ). A transient increase of products of membrane peroxidation was observed in the primary leaves during the period of Cu uptake. This rise was mainly due to the oxidizing properties of copper itself and not to a stimulation of the lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12) activity. In our experimental conditions, membrane lipid peroxidation and K + ‐leakage were not directly related; during at least three days after Cu application to the roots, when products of lipid peroxidation were already detected in the leaf, permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane for K + was improved. However, Cu stimulated the capacity of catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11). These enzymes protect the tissue against oxidative stress since at least the hydrogen peroxide content was significantly reduced. Superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) was not involved in this defense mechanism.