Abstract:
Drought is one of the major environmental factors that promote the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant. ROS can cause oxidative damage and contribute to negative effect on plant physiology. The aim of this study is to determine the physiological changes of Aglaonema simplex cultures under drought stress. Induction of drought stress of A. simplex plantlets were induced using MS media supplied with 20% (w/v)
of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000. The growth, enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameter were measured every 7 days interval for 7 week. Total specific activity of antioxidative enzyme Peroxidase (POD), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APx) and Catalase (CAT) were measured. The fresh weight and dry weight of both control plants and plants subjected to drought increased significantly throughout all the treatment
periods. The number of leaf growth was also investigated but there was no significant different observed between control and treatment plants. Drought stress resulted in higher enzyme activity in POD, APx and CAT at the early treatment duration. Fluctuated pattern was observed on the non-enzymatic antioxidant's a-Tocopherol, chlorophyll and anthocyanin. Drought stress gives physiological changes on the A. simplex plantlets.
