Abstract:
Objective This study focused on the effects of composite planting patterns of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), and scutellaria (Scutellaria baicalensis) on the resistance of understory plants to low-temperature stress. The study also analyzed the roles of glutathione (GSH) and its metabolic pathway-related genes in antioxidant defense. We analyzed the role of glutathione and its metabolic pathway-related genes in antioxidant defense.
Method We used intercropping and individual planting to determine changes in H2O2 and GSH contents, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, APX, GST and POD) under normal (25 ℃) and low temperature (0 ℃) stress. We further verified the mechanism of GSH and GST2 in antioxidant defense by spraying GSH exogenously, as well as by constructing a vector for overexpression of glutathione transferase 2 (GST2) gene and transiently transforming it into pigeonpea plants via vacuum infiltration.
Result Intercropping significantly increased GSH content and antioxidant enzyme activities in understory plants. After low-temperature stress, H2O2 content decreased by 16.04%, 38.98% and 10.10%; GSH content increased by 7.63%, 13.4% and 8.85%; and GST activity increased by 1.81, 5.37 and 3.13 fold, respectively in the intercropping of blue honeysuckle, pigeonpea and scutellaria. Exogenous GSH spraying enhanced pigeonpea,s cold resistance by decreasing H2O2 content by 19.89%, and increasing CAT, APX, and GST enzyme activities by 14.81%, 24.18% and 14.24%, respectively, as well as increasing GSH content by 37.48%. The H2O2 and MDA contents of pigeonpea overexpressing GST2 decreased by 10.10% and 14.73%, respectively. The GSH content increased by 10.68%. The activities of APX, SOD and POD enzymes were significantly enhanced under low-temperature stress.
Conclusion Intercropping activates the glutathione-ascorbate (GSH-ASA) pathway by increasing GSH content, which synergistically scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overexpression of GST2 gene enhances the antioxidant efficacy of this pathway. Together, they enhance the cold resistance of understory plants. This study establishes the theoretical basis for applying intercropping pattern to cold-resistant cultivation.