During osmotic stress, the MDA level in control plants increased abruptly from 2 to 8 days stress period. Conversely, this trend was find more significantly lower in SA, EA and Selleck Alvocidib SA+EA plants. Though, the MDA levels were high in SA treatments at the 8th day of stress but this was significantly lower than that of control plants (Figure 5). Results suggest that the endophyte presence has counteracted

drought stress by minimizing lipid peroxidation. Supper oxide anions (O2-) were not significantly different between EA and SA plants. O2 – levels were higher in control plants under normal conditions. After the exposure to stress conditions (2 and 4 days), the O2 – formation was significantly high in control plants as compared to EA, SA and EA+SA plants. Apoptosis inhibitor After 8th day of stress, the O2 – levels were high in control and SA as compared to EA and SA+EA plants (Figure 5). Enzymatic regulation by endophyte and SA under stress Enzymatic activities were significantly regulated during EA, SA and SA+EA. In catalase activity (CAT), it was significantly higher in EA and SA+EA plants while it was not significantly different between SA and control. In exposure to 2 days stress, the catalase activity was significantly activated in endophytic-associated plants as compared to control plants, SA and SA+EA plants. This activation trend was followed by SA+EA and SA plants respectively (Figure 6). In 4 selleck compound and 8 days of stress, the

catalase activity gradually reduced in EA plants whilst in SA and SA+EA it increased sharply. The catalase activity was significantly higher in SA+EA plants as compared to other treatments and control plants under maximum period of stress. Figure 6 Enzymatic activities of endophyte, SA and endophyte with SA treated plants during drought stress. CAT = catalase; POD = peroxidase; PPO = polyphenol peroxidase. EA = infested with P. resedanum; SA = treated with SA; SA+EA = endophytic fungal associated plants treated with SA. NST, 2-DT, 4-DT and 8-DT represent non-stressed, 2, 4 and 8 days drought stressed plants respectively. The different letter(s) in each stress period showed significant

difference (P<0.05) as evaluated by DMRT. Peroxidase (POD) activities were significantly reduced in control plants with or without stress conditions as compared to other SA, EA and SA+EA plants. Under normal growth conditions, POD activity was significantly higher in EA and SA+EA plants as compared to SA plants (Figure 6). Upon exposure to osmotic stress for 2, 4 and 8 days, the POD activity was significantly higher in EA plants than SA and SA+EA plants and control plants. However, SA+EA plants had higher POD activity as compared to SA and control plants. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were significantly reduced in control pepper plants. PPO activities increased in a dose dependent manner in EA plants with or without stress conditions.