Effect of exogenous steroid glycosides on cultured cells of potato under oxidative stress

Low doses of furostanol glycosides (FG) were shown to elevate the activity of peroxidases (guaiacol-dependent and ascorbate peroxidases) and reduce peroxidation of lipids (POL) below the control level in the cell culture of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Under oxidative stress (OS) induced by paraquat, FG protected the cell culture from injury with peroxidase activity being high and POL level lower as compared with the effect of paraquat alone. FG did not affect the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Dynamics of the levels of chlorophyll (a + b) and carotenoids depended not only on the effect of FG and paraquat but on the composition of cell population as well. Greenish tissue contained more pigments and was more resistant to the herbicide action than whitish tissue was. Possible reasons for the elevation of resistance of the cultured cells treated with FG under OS are discussed as well as similarity and differences in the responses of cells to the effect of inducers.