Oligochitosan induced Brassica napus L. production of NO and H2O2 and their physiological function

NO (nitric oxide) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) are important signaling molecule in plants. Brassica napus L. was used to understand oligochitosan inducing production of NO (nitric oxide) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and their physiological function. The result showed that the production of NO and H2O2 in epidermal cells of B. napus L. was induced with oligochitosan by fluorescence microscope. And it was proved that there was an interaction between NO and H2O2 with L-NAME (N-G-nitro-L-arg-methyl eater). which is an inhibitor of NOS (NO synthase) in mammalian cells that also inhibits plant NO synthesis, and CAT (catalase), which is an important H2O2 Scavenger, respectively. It was found that NO and H2O2 induced by oligochitosan took part in inducing reduction in stomatal aperture and LEA protein gene expression of leaves of B. napus L. All these results showed that oligochitosan have potential activities of improving resistance to water stress. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved