The Physiological Roles of the Peroxidase Enzyme in Six Mutant of Maize

Abstract

Peroxidase is an enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of a wide variety of organic substrates by hydrogen peroxide. It exists in multiple molecular forms or isozymes, and is ubiquitous in higher plants. The amount of peroxidase and its isozymic complexity vary with developmental stage and among plant tissues. Physiological functions proposed for peroxidase in plants relate to oxidative degredation of the plant hormone indoleacetic acid (Endo 1968, Fox et al 1965, Machackova et al 1975), lignification of cell walls (Lipetz and Garro 1965, Stafford and Bravinder-Bree 1972), photosynthesis (Macnicol 1966, Gordon 1971), tissue aging and senescence (Brewbaker and Hamill 1968, Haard 1973), and resistance to disease and injury (Farkas and Stahmann 1966, Hare 1966, Seevers et al 1971).