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The uptake of Mn^(+2), a metal cofactor Mn-SOD, by rice seedings resulted in not only a substantial increase in SOD activity in leaf tissues of the plants, but also a significant enhancement of their cold tolerance : the relative extent of the cold tolerance appeared to accord with relative level of the SOD activity. In contrast, Fe^(+3). Cu^(+2) and Zn^(+2). which are the cofactors of Fe-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD, were found to be ineffective for increasing the SOD activity as well as for improving the chilling-resistant capacity of the plants. The results suggest that Mn-SOD, which is most likely induced by its substrate(superoxide) and activated by the presence of Mn^(+2) at high level, is the enzyme acting as an active component of the defense system against low temperature stress in rice plants. In addition, the application of abscisic acid which has been know to protect to some extent certain plants from chilling injury brought about an increase in SOD activity in rice tissues, providing another affirmative information for the crucial role of SOD under the circumstance of cold stress in plants.
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