Antioxidative enzymes of Cucumis sativus seeds are modulated by Leucaena leucocephala extracts

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze oxidative stress produced in cucumber seeds and seedlings when exposed to aqueous extract from dried leaves of leucaena, as well as its effect on the germination behavior, early growth and the antioxidant enzymes activity. It was evaluated the percentage, the speed index, the average time, the frequency and germination synchronization, the root length and shoot, as well as the catalase and peroxidase enzymes activity. There was no significant inhibitory effect of the leaf extracts on the germination percentage. However, there was delay in the seeds germination, as the extract proportion increased. A stimulatory effect of the extract compared to the shoot length was observed, however the root growth was significantly reduced. The catalase activities had a peak at 24 hours after soaking the seeds, however, the activities were reduced in seedlings. The peroxidase activity was low in the seeds and increased in the seedlings at 168 hours after immersion. The results suggest that there was oxidative stress due to allelochemicals present in the leaves extracts from leucaena, verified by germination and initial growth changes, causing alterations in the plants rootlets.