Influence of rhizobial (Rhizobium leguminosarum) inoculation and calcium ions on the NADPH oxidase activity in roots of etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings

Changes in the functional activity of the NADPH oxidase in the microsomal fraction of roots of etiolated pea seedlings, caused by rhizobial inoculation and calcium ions (Ca2+), are shown. The enzyme activity in a medium with an exogenous source of Ca2+ (CaCl2, 100 μM) fluctuated, increasing 5 to 20 min and decreasing 10 and 30 min after addition. A calcium chelator (ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EDTA), 100 μM) potentiated the decrease in the enzyme activity in the presence of exogenous calcium. Rhizobial inoculation caused a 3.9-fold increase in the enzyme activity 5 min after inoculation compared to the control (without inoculation). The Ca2+-channel activator (amiodarone, 300 μM) and the Ca2+-channel blocker (lanthanum chloride, 400 μM) reduced the NADPH oxidase activity after rhizobial inoculation compared to the control level (without inoculation). It is concluded that Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species are involved in the regulation of the membrane NADPH oxidase activity in roots of pea seedlings.