LIPID PEROXIDATION DYNAMICS IN TOMATO VARIETIES UNDER DROUGHT STRESS AND POST-RECOVERY PERIOD

Drought stress is a major limiting factor for agricultural productivity, especially in water-scarce environments. In tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), drought stress induces oxidative damage, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation, which compromises membrane integrity. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a byproduct of lipid peroxidation, serves as a biomarker for assessing oxidative stress levels. This study investigates the lipid peroxidation response in the leaves of different tomato varieties under drought stress and during the post-recovery period. Nine local tomato varieties (Elim, Azerbaijan 94, Nuru, Ilyas, Yubiley 60, Mirvari, Zarrabi, Elnur, Khazar, and Shakar) were subjected to drought by withholding water for 10 days, followed by rewatering. MDA levels were measured at three stages: control, drought stress, and after 3 and 7 days of rehydration. Results show significant increases in MDA content across all varieties during drought stress, with Elnur and Zarrabi showing a 2.9- and 2-fold increase, respectively. Rehydration led to partial recovery in most varieties, with complete recovery observed in Mirvari and Azerbaijan-94 after 7 days. However, Khazar and Nuru retained higher MDA levels even after rehydration, indicating lower recovery capacity. These findings suggest that different tomato varieties exhibit distinct oxidative stress tolerance and recovery abilities, with implications for breeding drought-tolerant varieties. The study contributes to understanding drought resilience in tomatoes and provides insights for improving crop adaptation to water-limited environments.