Induction of alcohol dehydrogenase in lettuce seedlings by flooding stress

Abstract

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), its isozyme profiles and ethanol concentration in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings subjected to flooding stress were determined. Flooding stress caused increases in ADH activity and ethanol concentration. By 48 h, ADH activity and ethanol concentration in the flooded seedlings increased 3.2- and 7.0-fold, respectively, in comparison with those in non-stressed seedlings. Five electrophoretically separable ADH bands were found in extract of the flooded seedlings, whereas only two or three ADH bands were found in extract of non-stressed seedlings. These results indicate that lettuce ADH may have a system of three-gene and six-isozyme, and the increase in ADH activity in the flooded seedlings may be due to increased synthesis of the enzyme.