Abstract:

Effects of Ca(NO₃)₂ under different concentrations on rooting and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the leaves of cuttings of Dendrandema grandiflora 'Wangsheng' were studied. The results showed that the root number was the highest in 60 mg·L^-1 Ca²⁺ treated cuttings with significant increase in fresh and dry weights of the cuttings compared to the controls. But root number, fresh and dry mass and rooting rates decreased at 80 mg·L^-1 Ca²⁺. In 60 mg·L^-1 Ca²⁺ treated plants, the activities of SOD, POD, CAT and APX increased and MDA content decreased significantly compared with other plants. These results indicated that Ca²⁺ treatments at proper dosage might enhance rooting of cuttings by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing membrane lipid peroxidation during rooting in the cuttings of D. grandiflora.

Key words: Chrysanthemum, Ca²⁺, Rooting, Antioxidase, MDA