ROS production and scavenging in three cherry rootstocks under short-term waterlogging conditions

Cherry trees frequently experience short-term waterlogging due to heavy summer rainfall in Northeast China. Waterlogging causes a strong imbalance in the cellular redox state, including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A comparative study of responses to short-term waterlogging in three Prunus rootstocks was undertaken to reveal adaptive responses to oxidative stress in roots. P. mahaleb was more sensitive to waterlogging stress than P. pseudocerasus and P. cerasus x P. canescens in terms of ROS accumulation. During ROS accumulation, ROS scavengers such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR) were active. These results suggest that the response to short-term waterlogging was time and species specific. At the early stage (0-3 h), no significant impact on root activity was found under waterlogging in any of the species examined. Higher levels of ROS scavengers in P. pseudocerasus and P. cerasus x P. canescens contribute to survival under short-term waterlogging.