Physiological responses and activities of antioxidative enzymes were investigated in pepper(Capsicum annuum) seedlings subjected to low temperature stress. The seedlings were exposed to 7℃, 11℃, or 15℃ for 4 h during the early seedling stage of pepper plants. The results showed that plant height and chlorophyll content were unaffected by the treatments. Polyphenol content in seedlings exposed to 7℃ was higher than that at 11℃ and 15℃ for 2 h. After 3 h of treatment, the flavonoid content was higher in pepper seedlings exposed to 7℃ than 11℃ and 15℃, which was slightly higher than that detected in the control. The H2O2 content increased remarkably with increasing exposure time to low temperature(i.e., 7℃) as compared to that at 11℃ and 15℃. The levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), ascorbate peroxidase(APX), and peroxidase(POD) fluctuated. These results provide basic information that can be utilized to maintain efficient temperature in greenhouses for sustainable growth of pepper under severe low temperature conditions.

Chinese cabbage grown during autumn season is confronted with drought conditions for a certain period, especially during the early growth stage. In this study, we investigated the effects of drought stress on plant growth characteristics, as well as free amino acid, carotenoid, and proline in Chinese cabbage. Chinese cabbage seeds (Bulam Plus) were germinated, and all the seedlings were transplanted into plastic containers (28 ㎝ diameter × 22 ㎝ high) containing a commercial growth medium. The soil water content was measured and maintained at 10% for the drought-stressed plants and at 30% for the control plants, for three weeks. The results revealed that plant growth parameters were lower in the drought-stressed plants than in the control plants. The total free amino acid content tended to decrease in both drought-stressed and control plants with time. The total free amino acid content was found to be lower in the drought-stressed plants than in the control plants and the proline content was unaffected. Moreover, at three weeks after treatment, carotenoid content in drought stressed plants was significantly higher than that in the untreated plants. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because the effects of drought stress on plant growth parameters, free amino acid, carotenoids, and proline accumulation in autumn growing cultivar of Chinese cabbage have not been widely studied in Korea, and our study provides valuable information in this regard, as Chinese cabbage is consumed throughout the year in Korea.