The effect of osmotic stress on oxidative injury, compatible solutes content and water relations was investigated in two maize cultivars (Zea mays L. cv. Ankora -drought-sensitive and cv. Nova -drought-tolerant). Relative water content in leaves of both cultivars decreased after drought treatment, leaf water loss of sensitive cv. Ankora was higher than that of cv. Nova. The 24 h water stress induced by 0.3M sorbitol (-1.4 MPa) resulted in a damage of cell membranes. Lipid peroxidation rose in all studied organs of cv. Ankora and electrolyte leakage in roots of cv. Ankora was much higher than in cv. Nova. Similarly, proline content increased significantly in all studied organs of cv. Ankora. Content of soluble sugars increased in all studied organs of both cultivars, but the mesocotyl of cv. Nova accumulated the highest amount of sugars. The electrolyte leakage was the highest in the roots of both cultivars. Osmotic stress had deep influence predominantly on the roots of both cultivars. It is apparent that stress impact on the drought-sensitive cv. Ankora was deeper than on the drought-tolerant cv. Nova.

Seedlings of two cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) differing in their drought sensitivity were exposed to osmotic stress (0.3 M sorbitol, -1.4 MPa) for 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h during their heterotrophic stage of development. Alterations in their antioxidant pools combined with the activities of enzymes involved in defence against oxidative stress were investigated. Significant activation of antioxidative defence mechanisms correlated with droughtinduced oxidative stress tolerance, and this phenomenon was shown to be characteristic of the drought-tolerant cv. Nova. Activities of some ROS-scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were already enhanced significantly 4 h after the start of drought exposure in the drought-tolerant cv. Nova. Furthermore, a significant increase in the ascorbate pool was observed in this cultivar. On the other hand, in the drought-sensitive cv. Ankora only SOD and POD activities and the thiol pool were increased. No changes in APX activity or the level of ascorbate were recorded in cv. Ankora. Studies of root cell viability indicated that marked oxidative damage appeared only in cv. Ankora. These results, together with our previous observations, confirmed the higher ability of cv. Nova to tolerate drought stress and cope effectively with oxidative damage.

Cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) with different sensitivity to drought were exposed to 0.3 mol/L sorbitol (-1.4 MPa water potential) for 24 h. Exposure to water deficiency significantly reduced the growth of both shoots (coleoptile and hypocotyl) and roots. Shoot growth was inhibited more than the growth of roots. Osmotic stress enhanced accumulation of soluble sugars. Electrolyte leakage, a cell injury index, was slightly increased after 0.3 mol/L sorbitol. Respiration was measured in the presence and absence of 2,6-dichloro-phenol indophenol. 2,6-Dichloro-phenol indophenol did not influence respiration rates, because statistically equal results were observed under both conditions. Total respiration (v T ) decreased after osmoticum treatment. There were no significant differences in the v T among the cultivars analysed. The decrease in v T was caused by a decline in the activities and capacities of both cytochrome (v cyt , V cyt ) and alternative pathway (v alt , V alt ) of respiration. A high residual respiration (v res ) was observed, up to 27% of total uninhibited respiration. The result of uncoupler use clearly indicated that coupling was maintainedafter 24 h of osmotic stress. The recovery of the respiration rate was comparable with that of non-stressed control rates. According to these observations, no possible mitochondrial damage is expected. Water deficiency did not induce a stimulation of the alternative oxidase, so we assume that the stimulation of the alternative pathway is not related to drought stress resistance; rather, the function of the alternative pathway is to balance carbon metabolism and electron transport in a response to a changing environment.