Response of the Flag Leaves of a Super‐Hybrid Rice Variety to Drought Stress during Grain Filling Period

The effect of drought stress on the antioxidant system and membrane lipid peroxidation in flag leaves of a super-hybrid rice variety (Liang-You-Pei-Jiu, LYPJ) during the grain filling period was studied. During prophase of water deficit up to day 6 at relative soil water content (RSWC) 88 %, 81 %, 69 %, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity descended slightly, but the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) ascended rapidly. The content of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) decreased. The production rate of superoxide radical (O2−), the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were maintained in a low level (0.3481 nmolO2− mg−1 protein min−1, 170.17 μmol g−1 FW, 1.467 nmol g−1 FW, at day 6, respectively). The total membrane lipids and index of unsaturated fatty acids (IUFA) did not change obviously. Thereafter (day 9, 12, with 52 %, 28 %, respectively RSWC), the activities of these enzymes declined significantly, while the content of AsA + GSH showed a reverse tendency. However, O2− production rate, the contents of H2O2 + MDA also increased rapidly. As a result, the total membrane lipids and IUFA dramatically decreased. The results indicated that the whole protect system was destructed seriously; any single protective component could not resist the damage caused by drought stress.