Effect of low-temperature stress on antioxidant defense in Malus spp.

english

2025

volume 121, issue 2

anthocyanins   ascorbic acid   chalcones   malondialdehyde   Malus

Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The antioxidant defence system of plants consists of various antioxidant compounds and enzymes that play a key role in reducing oxidative damage and regulating the decay of reactive oxygen species, which are vital for metabolic processes. To evaluate the relationship between antioxidant components and stress resistance of apple plants, we studied the level of malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and chalcones in the bark of annual shoots. The results show that at sub-zero temperatures, the level of malondialdehyde in the apple plants studied increased by 1.6 % compared to positive temperatures. Based on the normal probability distribution, the correlation coefficient was r = 0.91 for anthocyanins, r = 0.97 for chalcones, r = 0.98 for vitamin C and r = 0.99 for malondialdehyde. The correlation value between anthocyanins and chalcones was r = 0.1 (p > 0.62), between anthocyanins and vitamin C r = -0.4 (p> 0.29), and between anthocyanins and malondialdehyde r = 0.5 (p > 0.05). The correlation analysis shows that among the secondary metabolites, chalcones (r = 0.7) have a greater ability, while anthocyanins (r = 0.5) have a lower ability, to inhibit excessive accumulation of malondialdehyde and protect lipid membranes from severe degradation of apple cells.

19.01.2026