Abstract:

In order to study the physiological mechanism of mail sterile Chestnut during male inflorescence abortion, the activities of SOD, POD, CAT and the content of MDA of male sterile variety of `Fulaiwuhua' and male fertile variety of `Dahongpao' during the development of male inflorescence were measured. The results showed that the SOD activities of mail sterile variety were higher than that of male fertile variety during the development of male inflorescence. The POD activities of mail sterile variety were higher than male fertile variety at the early stage of male inflorescence development, and rose obviously when the male inflorescence was dropping. The CAT activities of mail sterile variety were obviously higher than that of male fertile variety and their changes trend was the same. The MDA contents of mail sterile variety were obviously lower than that of male fertile variety except the male inflorescence was dropping. It was suggested that the destroying of active oxygen eliminating system might be the physiological reason of male inflorescence abortion.

Key words: Castanea mollissima, male sterility, male inflorescence, SOD, POD, CAT, MDA