Meta-topolin: an alternative for the prevention of oxidative stress in sugarcane micropropagation

Meta-topolina: uma alternativa para a prevenção do estresse oxidativo na micropropagação da cana-de-açúcar

ABSTRACT

The influence of two aromatic cytokinins (CKs), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and meta-topolin (mT), on in vitro propagation and redox metabolism of sugarcane (Saccharum spp., variety RB98710) was investigated. Plants were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with mT (5 µmol.L^-1) or BAP (5 or 6.66 µmol.L^-1) for 40 days. The use of mT provided an increase in the multiplication rate and stem length of plants and shoots when compared to BAP. Shoots generated from the mT treatment presented low malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, although they had higher hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content. Thus, the H₂O₂ did not act as a stress marker, but it is related to plant growth and development processes.

Keywords:
antioxidative enzymes; cytokinins; H₂O₂; Saccharum spp.