Microplate quantification of enzymes of the plant ascorbate–glutathione cycle

Here, we describe microplate assays for determining the specific activities of four enzymes that constitute the ascorbate–glutathione cycle: APX, MDHAR, DHAR, and GR. In plants, these enzymes play a major role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species produced in cells under environmental stress. This work presents the development of plate reader assays to allow rapid analysis of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle activity using tomato fruits subjected to salt stress as a model. With this method, it is possible to analyze easily in one day the activities of the four enzymes for 30 experimental samples, all in triplicate and with blanks.