RESUMEN La salinidad es uno de los principales factores de estrés ambiental, además de interferir en el crecimiento de las plantas perjudica directamente la producción agrícola. En ese contexto, se destaca la importancia de investigaciones direccionadas a la respuesta de las plantas sometidas al estrés salino, con el fin de evaluar el comportamiento fisiológico y bioquímico con el objetivo de seleccionar genotipos tolerantes a dicha condición. Una de las técnicas más utilizadas para uniformizar la respuesta de las plantas a una condición en particular es el cultivo de tejidos in vitro. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la respuesta de dos variedades comerciales de caña de azúcar (RB931011 e RB872552) expuestas a estrés salino con NaCl (56 mM e 112 mM) en diferentes condiciones, gradual y abrupta. Las respuestas del sistema antioxidante enzimático (catalasa, peroxidasa y ascorbato peroxidasa) y prolina libre, asi como las concentraciones de Na+ e K+ fueron evaluadas 30 días después del inicio de los tratamientos. Fueron observadas diferencias en la respuesta de las variedades en función del modo de inducción del estrés salino, graduado o abrupto, y no solo en función de las concentraciones de NaCl en el medio de cultivo. La respuesta al estrés es condicionada no solo por la concentración de sal sino también por la forma de exposición al medio salino.

ABSTRACT Salinity is one of the major environmental stress factors that affect crop productivity, as well as interfering with plant growth and development, resulting in reduced production quality. Given this, we highlight the importance of research in response to plants subjected to salt stress in order to assess the physiological and biochemical behavior of genotypes, with the objective of selecting the more tolerant. One way to ensure the uniformity of the response of the plants is through in vitro cultivation, which allows control of the cultivation conditions. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the response of two commercial varieties of sugar cane exposed to saline stress in different conditions (gradual and abrupt). Two varieties of sugarcane (RB931011 and RB872552) were subjected to in vitro salt stress by NaCl (56 mM and 112 mM), either gradually or suddenly. The responses of the enzymatic antioxidant system (catalase, peroxidases and ascorbate peroxidase) and free proline, as well as the Na+ and K+ contents, were assessed 30 days after the beginning of the treatments. Differences were observed in the responses of the varieties as a function of the induction mode of salt stress, graded or by shock, rather than as a function of the NaCl concentrations in the culture medium. The stress response is therefore conditioned not only by salt concentration, but also by the form of exposure to salt.

As condições de estresse biótico e abiótico impostas às plantas induzem a superprodução de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), podendo causar danos às estruturas celulares e mesmo acarretar a morte da planta. As respostas bioquímicas e fisiológicas de plantas superiores ao estresse oxidativo incluem um eficiente sistema de defesa antioxidante, que envolve a atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase, catalase, ascorbato peroxidase, peroxirredoxinas, dentre outras, além de metabólitos não enzimáticos, que, de forma conjunta, atuam na eliminação das ROS e na redução do dano oxidativo. Nesta revisão, serão abordados os principais sítios de produção de ROS e a ação de algumas enzimas do sistema de defesa antioxidante em plantas.

The biotic and abiotic stress conditions imposed on plants induces overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause damage to cellular structures and even lead to the death of the plant. The biochemical and physiological responses of higher plants to oxidative stress includes an efficient antioxidant defense system, which involves the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxiredoxines, among others, in addition to non-enzymatic metabolites, which, together, work on eliminating the ROS and in reducing oxidative damage. This review will address the main production sites of ROS and the action of some enzymes of antioxidative defense system in plants.