Superoxide Dismutase and Stress Tolerance of Four Tomato Cultivars

Effects of water stress on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, changes in protein content, leaf water potential (Ψ l ) and growth were studied in drought-sensitive Kyokko (KK) and Ratan (RT), and drought-tolerant TM 0126 (TM) and VF-134-1-2 (VF) cultivars of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in order to obtain fundamental information for breeding drought tolerant cultivars that may be adapted to water stress in many parts of the world. Growth of drought-tolerant TM and VF was greater than that of drought-sensitive KK and RT under water stress conditions. Leaf water potential (Ψ l ) decreased by water stress treatments in all the cultivars, but the reduction was much more rapid and pronounced in KK and RT than VF and TM.…