FIGURE 5.

Overexpression of GhVHA-A reduced reactive oxygen species production and oxidative damage in transgenic plants under dehydration stress. (A) Proline contents of WT and transgenic plants under dehydration stress. (B) MDA contents of WT and transgenic tobacco plants under dehydration stress. (C) Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased in GhVHA-A-overexpressing tobacco plants under drought stress. (D) Peroxide dismutase (POD) activity of WT and transgenic plants. The data in (A–D) are means ± SE of three independent experiments. Different letters above columns indicate significant differences according to Duncan’s multiple range test (P < 0.05). (E) Representative photographs of staining with nitroblue tetrazolium (O₂^-, a) and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (H₂O₂, b) in tobacco leaves before (upper panel) and after (lower panel) dehydration.