© 1994 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Effects of manganese deficiency on soluble apoplastic peroxidase activities and lignin content in needles of Norway spruce
(Picea abies)
Andrea Polle (1, 2, 3) and Krisanu Chakrabarti (1, 4)
1. Fraunhofer Institut für Atmosphärische Umweltforschung, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, D-82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany / 2. Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Institut für Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie, Am Flughafen 17, D-79085 Freiburg i.Br.,
Germany / 3. Author to whom correspondence should be addressed / 4. University College of Science, Department of Biochemistry, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta 700109, India / Received November 18, 1993
Summary
Apoplastic peroxidase activities were investigated in manganese-deficient and manganese-sufficient needles of field-grown
Norway spruce trees (Picea abies L.). In Mn-sufficient needles, two sets of peroxidases, one with an alkaline pI ≥ 9 and another with an acidic pI ≤ 3, were
identified using guaiacol or coniferylalcohol as substrates for activity staining after isoelectric focusing in a pH gradient
from 3 to 9. The acidic peroxidases were capable of Mn-dependent NADH oxidation and H2O2 formation. Syringaldazine peroxidase activity was not found in apoplastic extracts, but was present in whole-needle extracts.
Manganese deficiency did not affect the activity or the isoelectric focusing pattern (pH 3 to 9) of the apoplastic peroxidases.
Soluble peroxidase activities from whole-needle extracts were significantly higher in Mn-deficient than in Mn-sufficient needles
with all substrates tested. Mn-deficient needles contained slightly less cell wall material than Mn-sufficient needles, but
the lignin content was similar. Neither apoplastic peroxidase activity nor lignification was affected by Mn deficiency, suggesting
that apoplastic peroxidases are regulated independently from symplastic peroxidases.
Keywords:
apoplastic space, cell wall, coniferylalcohol peroxidase, NADH oxidase.
