α-TOCOPHEROL REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND IMPROVED FRUIT QUALITY
Authors:
M. Schmitz, G. Noga
Keywords:
Phaseolus vulgaris, oxidative stress, paraquat, fruit colour, chlorophyll fluorescence, apple scab
Abstract:
The effect of -tocopherol treatment has been studied in plants exposed to oxidative stress.
For inducing a defined amount of stress the herbicide paraquat was used.
An -tocopherol pre-treatment of plants significantly reduced paraquat-induced injury.
This was documented in bean and apple leaves by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, quantification of necrotic lesions and determination of the antioxidative capacity in lipophilic and hydrophilic leaf extracts.
In field experiments a significant effect of repeated -tocopherol treatments against Venturia inaequalis was established in ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Elstar’ trees.
Besides, fruit colour formation was improved.