Analysis of the difference of drought tolerance in Saccharum officinarum and Erianthus arundinaceum Retz
Changes of osmotic adjustment and active oxygen metabolism of Erithanus arundinaceum and Saccharum officinarum (cv. Badila) under water stress were studied. The results indicated that the increment of MDA in Erithanus arundinaceum was less than that in S. officinarum with the water stress. On the contrary, the specific activities of SOD and POD were both obviously higher than those in Badila. The isozymes (SOD_(b1), SOD_(b2) and POD_(a1)) of Erianthus arundinaceum were stronger and obviously different from those of Badila. In addition, a new isozyme POD_(b2), the same as in Badila, was induced in Erianthus arundinaceum when re-watered after severe water stress. The results also showed that CAT specific activity declined rapidly in Badila but increased in Erianthus arundinaceum after water stress, suggesting that Erianthus arundinaceum was more adaptive to water stress and that the drought resistance gene could be cloned from Erianthus arundinaceum.