Response of barley seedlings to UV-B radiation as affected by NaCl

The response of barley seedlings, subjected to 150 mmol/L NaCl for 4 days at different light regimes (4 d in the light, 4 d in darkness and a 12 h light/dark cycle) before UV-B radiation was investigated. NaCl treatment resulted in a decrease of total chlorophyll content and an increase in H2O2, free proline and lipid peroxidation, as quantified by measurement of malondialdehyde. Significantly more proline was accumulated in the light than in darkness. The combination of UV-B and NaCl treatment produced an additive effect on most of the parameters studied. UV-B radiation reduced the chlorophyll/carotenoids ratio and photochemical efficiency of PSII as estimated by chlorophyll fluorescence. NaCl pre-exposure decreased H2O2 generation and lipid peroxidation and alleviated the inhibitory effect of UV-B on PSII activity. Proline accumulated under salt stress conditions might be one of the reasons for the observed tolerance of barley seedlings to UV-B radiation.     

Exogenous salicylic acid improves salinity tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nitraria tangutorum</Emphasis>

In the present study, the physiological responses of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. seedlings to NaCl stress and the regulatory function of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) were investigated. NaCl in low concentration (100 mM) increased while in higher concentrations (200–400 mM) decreased the individual plant dry weights (wt) of seedlings. Decreased relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content were observed in the leaves of seedlings subjected to salinity stress (100–400 mM NaCl). Furthermore, NaCl stress significantly increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The levels of osmotic adjustment solutes including proline, soluble sugars, and soluble protein were enhanced under NaCl treatments as compared to the control. In contrast, exogenous application of SA (0.5–1.5 mM) to the roots of seedlings showed notable amelioration effects on the inhibition of individual plant dry wt, RWC, and chlorophyll content. The increases in electrolyte leakage and MDA content in the leaves of NaCl-treated seedlings were markedly inhibited by SA application. The SA application further increased the contents of proline, soluble sugars, and soluble protein. The activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were up-regulated by NaCl stress and the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were further enhanced by SA treatments. Application of SA in low concentration (0.5 mM) enhanced while in higher concentrations (1.0 and 1.5 mM) inhibited APX activities in leaves of NaCl-treated seedlings. These results indicate that SA effectively alleviated the adverse effects of NaCl stress on N. tangutorum.     

外源NO对NaCl胁迫下辣椒幼苗氧化损伤的保护效应

以辣椒品种陇椒2号为试验材料,研究了外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP)对辣椒幼苗氧化损伤的影响.结果显示,在100 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下,辣椒叶片的MDA含量、质膜相对透性和脯氨酸含量均增加,保护酶SOD、CAT活性降低,而POD活性只在胁迫18 d时降低.0.1 mmol/L SNP处理可减缓NaCl胁迫下辣椒幼苗叶片MDA含量的上升,降低叶片质膜相对透性,并诱导SOD、POD和CAT活性增加,提高脯氨酸含量,表明外源NO可以通过提高盐胁迫下辣椒幼苗叶片组织的抗氧化能力来缓解氧化损伤.而SNP相似物NaNO2和K3Fe(CN)6处理对盐胁迫引起的氧化损伤并没有起到明显的缓解作用,进一步证实了NO对辣椒幼苗耐盐性具有专一性的调节作用.     

氯化钠胁迫对嫁接茄子生长、抗氧化酶活性和活性氧代谢的影响

以日本引进的茄子设施栽培专用耐盐品种‘Torvum Vigor’为砧木,栽培品种‘苏崎茄’为接穗,在营养液栽培条件下,对80 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下茄子嫁接苗和自根苗的光合特性、叶片抗氧化酶活性、活性氧代谢进行了比较.结果表明：NaCl胁迫下,茄子嫁接苗的干质量、叶绿素含量和光合速率分别比苏崎茄自根苗高67。8％、8。8％和31。1％,均有显著差异;抗氧化酶活性均显著高于苏崎茄自根苗,而O₂^-_·生成速率、H₂O₂和MDA含量则显著低于苏崎茄自根苗.NaCl胁迫明显降低了叶片叶绿素含量和光合速率,显著增加了O₂^-_·生成速率、H₂O₂和MDA含量,但嫁接苗受NaCl胁迫的影响小于苏崎茄自根苗,嫁接苗较强的耐盐性与NaCl胁迫下较高的抗氧化酶活性和较低的氧化损伤有关.     

一氧化氮调节盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部质膜H^＋-ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性提高耐盐性

采用外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)研究了NO对盐胁迫下小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)幼苗耐盐性的影响。结果表明,0.1 mmol/L SNP处理显著缓解了150 mmol/L NaCl 胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制效应,包括水分丧失以及叶绿素降解,从而提高了小麦幼苗的耐盐性。进一步结合1 mg/mL血红蛋白处理则显著逆转了SNP诱导的上述效应;利用亚硝酸钠和铁氰化钾作为对照也证实了NO对小麦幼苗耐盐性的专一性调节作用,并可能与NO对小麦幼苗根部质膜 H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性诱导有关。此外,尽管NO显著提高了盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部细胞质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶的ATP水解活性,但是对跨膜H 转运则没有明显影响。应用外源CaSO4 和 EGTA 处理也证实,Ca2 可能在NO诱导的质膜 H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性的提高过程中起信号作用。另外,分析盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部 Na 和K 含量的变化也发现,NO对Na 含量没有明显影响,但是却显著提高了K 水平和K /Na 比,这可能也是NO提高小麦幼苗耐盐性的原因之一。     

翅果油树幼苗对NaCl胁迫的生理生化反应

研究了不同浓度NaCl处理对翅果油树幼苗高度、叶绿素含量、膜脂过氧化和保护酶活性的影响.结果表明,随着NaCl浓度的升高和胁迫时间的延长,幼苗高度明显受到抑制,叶绿素含量呈下降趋势.整个处理过程中,丙二醛(MDA)含量逐渐增加,但增加幅度不大,表明脂质过氧化反应水平不高.各处理浓度的叶片相对电导率、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈上升趋势.研究表明,翅果油树幼苗在NaCl胁迫下有活性较高的膜保护酶系统,具有一定的抗盐能力.     

α-萘乙酸对低温胁迫下油菜幼苗抗寒性的影响

为探究α-萘乙酸(NAA)对植物抗寒性的影响,以白菜型冬油菜‘陇油6号’为试验材料,经4℃、NAA+4℃、NAA+4℃+DPI(NADPH氧化酶抑制剂)、NAA+4℃+DMTU(H2O2清除剂)、NAA+4℃+U0126(MAPK抑制剂)和NAA+4℃+Tungstate(NO生成抑制剂)处理后,研究其对‘陇油6号’油菜的活性氧(H2O2和O2-·)含量,抗氧化酶活性,丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性糖、脯氨酸和叶绿素含量,抗氧化酶基因(APX、CAT、GR、SOD)、Rboh A-F、MAPK3/4/6、CBF和ICE1基因表达量的影响。结果表明:与4℃低温处理相比,NAA+4℃处理下油菜根系中的细胞活性、H2O2和O2-·含量以及叶片中的MDA含量均降低;根系中的抗氧化酶(CAT、SOD、APX和POD)活性、叶片中的可溶性糖及脯氨酸含量、叶绿素含量、上述相关基因的表达量均升高,说明α-萘乙酸处理油菜可显著提高低温胁迫下油菜幼苗的抗氧化能力、光合能力和相关基因的表达,增强油菜幼苗的抗寒性。与NAA+4℃处理相比,NAA+4℃+抑制剂(DPI、DMTU、U0126和Tungstate)处理下油菜幼苗中叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶基因表达量、Rboh A-F、MAPK3/4/6、CBF和ICE1基因表达量均呈不同程度降低,说明H2O2和NO信号分子、NADPH氧化酶和MAP激酶级联途径均参与了α-萘乙酸增强油菜幼苗耐寒性过程的调控。     

Biochemical responses of Hyacinth bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lablab purpureus)</Emphasis> to salinity stress

Effect of salinity on Hyacinth bean, Lablab purpureus (HA-4 cultivar) was evaluated in 10-day old seedlings with 100–500 mM NaCl over 72 h of exposure. The stress reduced dry and fresh weight, leaf surface area, root and shoot length, total chlorophyll, and RWC. Oxidative stress markers, H₂O₂, glutathione, TBARS, proline, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and total soluble sugar contents were significantly elevated. Salinity enhanced antioxidant enzymes, POX, and GR activities and reduced that of CAT in concentration and time dependent manner in leaves. Antioxidant enzymes in roots showed inverse relationship with concentration and time of exposure. Metabolic enzyme β-amylase activity increased in both leaves and roots. Acid phosphatase decreased in leaves and elevated in roots. Intensity of constitutive isozymes correlated with in vitro levels under stress, but the protein band patterns differed from controls. Lablab showed reasonable tolerance up to 300 mM NaCl, but leaves and roots differed in their response.     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对NaCl胁迫下黑果枸杞幼苗生理及生长的影响

5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)是植物血红素、叶绿素等四吡咯化合物的关键生物合成前体,对植物适应非生物胁迫至关重要。为验证外源ALA对黑果枸杞幼苗生理生长的影响,该研究用300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl和不同浓度(0、5、10、15、20、25 mg·L^-1)的ALA共同处理黑果枸杞幼苗,并测定其相关的生理指标和生长指标,综合评价各处理幼苗的耐盐性。结果表明：(1)NaCl胁迫使黑果枸杞幼苗总生物量和叶片总叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、可溶性糖含量以及过氧化物酶(POD)活性较CK分别显著降低了33.39%、19.06%、24.38%、39.57%和47.91%(P<0.05),使黑果枸杞幼苗脯氨酸和丙二醛的含量较CK分别显著增加了165.74%和49.16%。(2)当外源ALA和NaCl同时处理时,黑果枸杞幼苗叶片类胡萝卜素和丙二醛含量、POD和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性以及株高、总生物量均恢复至对照水平,叶片总叶绿素和脯氨酸含量以及SOD活性较CK显著增加。(3)黑果枸杞幼苗叶片叶绿素和脯氨酸含量以及抗氧化酶活性、生物量等指标随ALA浓度增加均呈先...     

一氧化氮调节盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部质膜H+-ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性提高耐盐性

采用外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)研究了NO对盐胁迫下小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)幼苗耐盐性的影响.结果表明,0.1 mmol/L SNP处理显著缓解了1 50 mmol/L NaCl胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制效应,包括水分丧失以及叶绿素降解,从而提高了小麦幼苗的耐盐性.进一步结合1 mg/mL血红蛋白处理则显著逆转了SNP诱导的上述效应;利用亚硝酸钠和铁氰化钾作为对照也证实了NO对小麦幼苗耐盐性的专一性调节作用,并可能与NO对小麦幼苗根部质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性诱导有关.此外,尽管NO显著提高了盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部细胞质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶的ATP水解活性,但是对跨膜H 转运则没有明显影响.应用外源CaSO4和EGTA处理也证实,Ca2 可能在NO诱导的质膜H -ATPase和焦磷酸酶活性的提高过程中起信号作用.另外,分析盐胁迫下小麦幼苗根部Na 和K 含量的变化也发现,NO对Na 含量没有明显影响,但是却显著提高了K 水平和K /Na 比,这可能也是NO提高小麦幼苗耐盐性的原因之一.     

Effect of ABA on the contents of proline, polyamines, and cytokinins in the common ice plants under salt stress

The effects of ABA treatment on the contents of proline, polyamines (PA), and cytokinins (CK) in the facultative halophyte the common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) subjected to salt stress were studied. Plants grown in the phytotron chamber on Jonson nutrient medium for 6 weeks were subjected to 6-day-long salinity by a single NaCl adding to medium. During first three days of salinity, half plants of each treatment were placed for 30 min on nutrient medium containing 0, 100, or 300 mM NaCl plus ABA in the final concentration of 1 μM. Salinity reduced biomass accumulation and water and chlorophyll contents in plants. This was accompanied by the increase in the levels of MDA, proline, and sodium ions. ABA treatment of salt-stressed plants favored biomass accumulation and photosynthetic pigment protection, reduced the intensity of oxidative stress and the level of NaCl-induced proline accumulation. ABA treatment increased the contents of putrescine (Put) and spermidine (Spd) in the leaves and roots of control plants (not subjected to salt stress), reduced the losses of Put in the leaves and roots and Spd in the roots in the presence of 100 mM NaCl, and suppressed cadaverine (Cad) accumulation in the roots in the presence of 300 mM NaCl. In the presence of NaCl, ABA reduced the contents of zeatin and zeatin riboside and increased the level of zeatin-O-glucoside in the roots and isopentenyladenosine and isopentenyladenine in the leaves. Thus, ABA protective action under salinity can be realized through the weakening of oxidative stress (a decrease in MDA content) and the regulation of PA, proline, and CK metabolism, which has a great significance in plant adaptation to injurious factors.     

The Effect of Salinity Pretreatment on Cd Accumulation and Cd-Induced Stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">BADH</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">-</Emphasis>Transgenic and Nontransgenic Rice Seedlings

The influence of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) and salinity pretreatment on oxidative stress under cadmium (Cd) toxicity was investigated in rice cv. Xiushui 11 and its BADH-transgenic line Bxiushui 11. The results showed that plants previously treated with 4.25 and 8.5 mM NaCl, respectively, for 5 days each had higher Cd concentrations in both roots and shoots of the two rice genotypes compared with the controls. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in both leaves and roots was increased by salinity pretreatment and was significantly lower in the salinity-pretreatment plants than in the controls when the plants were consequently exposed to Cd stress. Salinity pretreatment also increased proline content and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in both leaves and roots. It can be assumed that salinity pretreatment enhances the defensive ability of plants against oxidative stress through increasing activities of antioxidative enzymes. The BADH-transgenic line (Bxiushui 11) had lower Cd and MDA content, higher SOD and POD activities, and higher proline content than its wild type (Xiushui 11). The current results suggest that betaine, a product of BADH expression, improves the tolerance of rice plants to Cd stress through increasing the activities of antioxidative enzymes and osmoprotectant content.     

外源一氧化氮对氯化钠处理下秋茄幼苗抗氧化系统的调节效应

研究了外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)对NaCl处理下红树植物秋茄(Kan-deliacandel)幼苗叶片中抗氧化酶活性、抗氧化物质及脯氨酸含量的影响。结果表明:NaCl处理下,秋茄幼苗叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)等4种活性氧清除酶的活性均受到明显抑制(P<0.05),SNP可以不同程度地恢复SOD、POD、CAT的活性,但对APX活性影响不大;SNP提高谷胱甘肽(GSH)及类胡萝卜素(Car)的含量,促进脯氨酸含量的上升,显著降低叶片中过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)的累积。表明外源NO可以缓解NaCl处理诱导的秋茄幼苗叶片氧化损伤,降低膜脂过氧化水平,有利于秋茄适应盐生环境。     

外源脯氨酸对盐胁迫下甜瓜幼苗硝酸还原的影响

采用营养液水培方法,以＂雪美＂品种甜瓜（Cucumis melo L.）为材料,研究了外源脯氨酸（Proline）对盐胁迫下甜瓜幼苗叶片和根系硝酸还原的影响。结果表明：（1）盐胁迫提高了甜瓜幼苗叶片和根系内铵态氮（NH4＋-N）和可溶性蛋白含量;降低了硝态氮（NO-3-N）含量和硝酸还原酶（nitrate reductase,NR）活性。（2）外源施用脯氨酸明显地提高了盐胁迫下甜瓜幼苗叶片和根系内NO-3-N和可溶性蛋白含量;降低了盐胁迫下甜瓜幼苗叶片和根系内NH＋4-N含量;增强了盐胁迫下甜瓜幼苗体内NR活性。研究结果表明,外源脯氨酸可以通过调节甜瓜幼苗体内硝酸还原酶活性和氮化合物含量来缓解盐胁迫对甜瓜幼苗植株的伤害。     

盐胁迫下番茄砧木对嫁接苗生物量、氨基酸含量和活性氧代谢的影响

为探讨砧木对提高番茄嫁接苗耐盐性的作用机理,以耐盐性较敏感的‘中杂9号’(S)为接穗,耐盐性较强的‘OZ-006’(R)为砧木,采用劈接法形成嫁接苗(RS)以及接穗自嫁接苗(SS)、砧木自嫁接苗(RR)3个试验材料,在175 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理下测定植株生长、Na⁺积累、氨基酸含量和活性氧代谢的变化。结果表明: NaCl胁迫导致番茄幼苗的盐害指数和Na⁺含量均显著提高,幼苗生长速率和叶绿素含量显著降低,但不同嫁接苗的类型差异显著,在盐害表型上表现为SS>RS>RR的规律。NaCl胁迫诱导嫁接苗的叶片和根系总氨基酸含量显著提高,其中RR、RS叶片有9种、根系有8种氨基酸含量显著高于对照,以脯氨酸含量变化最为显著,而SS叶片中仅有2种、根系中仅有4种氨基酸含量显著高于对照;幼苗间的氨基酸含量呈现RR>RS>SS的规律,RR、RS叶片的氨基酸含量分别比SS叶片上升了32.8%、16.6%,根系分别比SS上升了53.1%和32.5%。NaCl胁迫造成活性氧代谢的变化,幼苗叶片和根系的抗氧化酶活性、超氧阴离子产生速率、丙二醛含量均显著提高,以RR叶片和根系中抗氧化酶活性的增幅最大,其次为RS;SS和抗氧化酶活性的增幅最小,品种间活性氧水平表现为SS>RS>RR。综上,砧木通过抑制Na⁺向上运输、提高氨基酸水平和抗氧化酶活性缓解了盐胁迫对嫁接苗的伤害,但不同砧穗组合的耐盐性差异较大,以RR的耐盐性最强,其次为RS,SS最弱。因此,番茄嫁接苗的耐盐性主要受砧木耐盐性的影响,其次为接穗,同时,其与番茄体内的氨基酸和活性氧代谢调控密切相关。     

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni responses to salt stress and chitosan elicitor

This study examined the effect of chitosan elicitor with four different concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/l) on physiological and biochemical properties of stevia under four levels of salinity stress (0, 50, 100, 150 mM level of NaCl). Salt stress caused reduction of chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), total chlorophyll, carotenoid and total protein content. The increment of malondialdehyde (MDA) content was not significant in all NaCl levels, while the CAT and POX activities were increased as well as stevioside and rebaudioside A under salinity stress. On one side, chitosan treatments could compensate the reduction of physiological traits such as photosynthetic pigments and protein content. On the other side, chitosan caused multiple increases in malondialdehyde content, antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase and peroxidase), steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside A) under salt stress. We report for the first time, the potential of chitosan to enhance salinity-tolerant abilities in stevia through increment of the salt-adaptive factors and to diminish harmful damages caused by NaCl stress.     

外源GSH对盐胁迫下番茄幼苗生长及抗逆生理指标的影响

采用营养液栽培法,研究外源谷胱甘肽(GSH)对NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗生长、根系活力、电解质渗透率和丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶性糖含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性的影响,为利用外源物质减轻盐胁迫伤害提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)NaCl胁迫显著抑制了番茄幼苗的生长、根系活力和SOD、POD、CAT活性,提高了电解质渗透率及MDA、Pro、可溶性糖含量;(2)外源喷施GSH能够诱导NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗叶片抗氧化酶SOD、POD、CAT活性上调,电解质渗透率及MDA含量下降,Pro和可溶性糖含量恢复至对照水平;(3)外源喷施还原型谷胱甘肽抑制剂(BSO)使NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗的根系活力以及抗氧化酶SOD、POD、CAT活性下降,脯氨酸含量提高;(4)喷施GSH可诱导BSO和NaCl共处理番茄植株的根系活力、SOD、POD、CAT活性提高,MDA和Pro含量降低。研究表明,外源GSH可通过提高促进盐胁迫下番茄幼苗植株渗透调节能力及清除活性氧的酶促系统的防御能力、降低细胞膜脂过氧化程度、保护膜结构的完整性,从而有效缓解NaCl胁迫对番茄幼苗生长的抑制,提高其耐盐性。     

盐胁迫对裸果木幼苗生长和叶片相关生理指标的影响

裸果木起源于古地中海,为亚洲中部荒漠区分布的第三纪孑遗植物种,对研究旱生植物演化过程具有重要的科学价值。以一年生裸果木(Gymnocarpos przewalskii)实生苗为材料,在盆栽条件下用质量浓度为0.4%、0.8%、1.2%和1.6%的NaCl溶液进行盐胁迫处理,测定各NaCl处理下裸果木幼苗叶片的抗氧化酶活性、渗透调节物质含量、叶绿素含量、相对电导率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)含量以及株高、基径,根、茎、叶、总干重,根冠比变化,探讨裸果木幼苗对盐胁迫的生理耐受性。结果显示,(1)随着盐胁迫程度的加重,裸果木幼苗株高、基径,以及根、茎、叶干重和总干重整体呈下降趋势,而根冠比呈上升趋势;裸果木幼苗株高、基径和根干重在0.4%NaCl处理下较对照变化不显著,但其茎干重、叶干重和总干重在各NaCl处理下均显著低于对照。(2)随着盐胁迫程度的加重,裸果木幼苗叶片的可溶性糖(SS)含量、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均先升高后降低,而脯氨酸(Pro)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、REC、MDA含量均呈持续升高趋势;在0.8%NaCl处理...     

Comparative lipid peroxidation,antioxidant defense systems and proline content in roots of two rice cultivars differing in salt tolerance

The changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POX: EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX: EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR: EC 1.6.4.2), free proline content, and the rate of lipid peroxidation level in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) in roots of two rice cultivars (cvs.) differing in salt tolerance were investigated. Plants were subjected to three salt treatments, 0, 60, and 120 mol m⁻³ NaCl for 7 days. The results showed that activated oxygen species may play a role in cellular toxicity of NaCl and indicated differences in activation of antioxidant defense systems between the two cvs. The roots of both cultivars showed a decrease in GR activity with increase in salinity. CAT and APOX activities increased with increasing salt stress in roots of salt-tolerant cultivar Pokkali but decreased and showed no change, respectively, in roots of IR-28 cultivar. POX activity decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations in salt-tolerant Pokkali but increased in IR-28. SOD activity showed no change in roots of both cultivars under increasing salinity. MDA level in the roots increased under salt stress in sensitive IR-28 but showed no change in Pokkali. IR-28 produced higher amount of proline under salt stress than in Pokkali. Increasing NaCl concentration caused a reduction in root fresh weight of Pokkali and root dry weight of IR-28. The results indicate that improved tolerance to salt stress in root tissues of rice plants may be accomplished by increased capacity of antioxidative system.