Exogenous Nitric Oxide Alleviated the Inhibition of Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Iron-Deficient Chinese Cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.)

The effects of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on plant growth, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters as well as lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes were investigated in Chinese cabbage plants exposed to iron (Fe) deficiency. Iron deficiency led to serious chlorosis in Chinese cabbage leaves, and resulted in significant decrease in plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, net photosynthetic rate, Fv/Fm, Φ PS II and activities of antioxidant enzymes, and increase in lipid peroxidation. While treatment with SNP, a NO donor, it could revert the iron deficiency symptoms, increased photosynthetic rate as well as activities of antioxidant enzymes, and protected membrane from lipid peroxidation, as a result, the growth inhibition of Chinese cabbage by Fe deficiency was alleviated.