Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic Antioxidant System in Young Plants of Tachigali vulgaris Submitted to Drought

Tachigali vulgaris is a pioneer species, colonizing marginal lands and roadsides, often initiates secondary succession in open areas by the intense germination of their seeds in the soil. The main components of the antioxidant defense system can be divided into enzyme found primarily intracellularly (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, etc.) and small non-enzymatic molecules that can be divided into soluble in water (ascorbic acid, glutathione and bilirubin) and lipid soluble (α-tocopherol, β-carotene and lycopene). Plants were then separated into leaves and roots, wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in Ultrafreezer at -80 °C. To determine the enzymatic activity and biochemical analyzes, the plant material was first frozen in liquid nitrogen and subsequently lyophilized. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 3 × 2 (three times- zero, five and ten days of water suspension, and two water conditions- control and drought stress), with four repetitions. Analysis of variance was applied to the results and when significant difference, the means were compared using the t test adopting the 5% level of probability through the statistical package (7.7 beta Assistat, 2015). Since they were able to drive quickly the enzymatic antioxidant defense system (SOD, CAT and APX), however, failing to reduce oxidative damage resulting in the death of them.