Synergistic effects of drought and ascorbic acid on growth,mineral nutrients and oxidative defense system in canola (Brassica napus L.) plants

A study was conducted to find out the role of ascorbic acid (AsA) in modulating growth and different physio-biochemical attributes of canola plants under well-watered as well as water-deficit conditions. Drought stress imposed on 60 % field capacity significantly decreased the shoot and root fresh and dry weights, leaf chlorophyll contents, shoot and root P, root K⁺, and activity of CAT enzyme, while increased chlorophyll a/b contents, MDA, NPQ, leaf total phenolics, free proline and GB contents in both canola cultivars. Foliar-applied varying levels (50, 100 and 150 mg L^?1) of AsA enhanced shoot and root fresh and root dry weights, qN, NPQ, shoot and root P, AsA as well as the activity of POD enzyme particularly under drought stress conditions. Of both canola cultivars, cv. Dunkeld was higher in shoot fresh weights, ETR and F _v /F _m, MDA, proline and GB contents, and POD activity, however, cv. Cyclone in total phenolics and qN under well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Overall, the foliar-applied AsA had a positive effect, though not marked, on salt sensitive cv. Cyclone in terms of improved growth and other attributes, whereas exogenously applied AsA had a non-significant effect on relatively salt tolerant cv. Dunkeld.     

Salt stress regulates enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidative defense system in the edible part of carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is widely utilized all over the world due to its enriched healthy nutritional composition. However, its growth and quality is adversely affected due to saline stress. To assess salt-induced regulation in different enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in the edible part of two cultivars (T-29 and DC-4) of carrot, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. The cultivars were grown for 90 days under varying (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) saline regimes. High accumulation of glycinebetaine (GB), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents was found in the roots of both carrot lines under varying saline regimes. However, total soluble proteins and activities of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) declined in the edible part of both carrot cultivars. Alpha-tocopherol (α-Toco) contents remained almost unaffected at all saline regimes except at 150 mM NaCl, where tocopherol content increased markedly. Of both carrot cultivars, cv. DC-4 accumulated relatively higher amount of GB, soluble protein and α-Toco contents than cv. T-29. The cv. T-29 had considerably higher amounts of AsA and MDA and activities of POD, SOD, and CAT than those in cv. DC-4 both under saline and nonsaline conditions. Overall, GB, AsA, and MDA contents increased while enzymatic antioxidant activities decreased in both carrot cultivars under different saline regimes which indicated that the enzymatic antioxidant metabolism was negatively influenced in the edible part of carrot due to salinity stress. So it can be suggested that the carrot is salt sensitive and its nutritional value in terms of antioxidants declines under salt stress.     

Salt-induced modulation in growth,photosynthetic capacity,proline content and ion accumulation in sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L.)

Salt-induced changes in growth, photosynthetic pigments, various gas exchange characteristics, relative membrane permeability (RMP), relative water content (RWC) and ion accumulation were examined in a greenhouse experiment on eight sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars. Sunflower cultivars, namely Hysun-33, Hysun-38, M-3260, S-278, Alstar-Rm, Nstt-160, Mehran-II and Brocar were subjected to non-stress (0 mM NaCl) or salt stress (150 mM NaCl) in sand culture. On the basis of percent reduction in shoot biomass, cvs. Hysun-38 and Nstt-160 were found to be salt tolerant, cvs. Hysun-33, M-3260, S-278 and Mehran-II moderately tolerant and Alstar-Rm and Brocar salt sensitive. Salt stress markedly reduced growth, different gas exchange characteristics such as photosynthetic rate (A), water-use efficiency (WUE) calculated as A/E, transpiration rate (E), internal CO₂ concentration (C _i) and stomatal conductance (g _s) in all cultivars. The effect of 150 mM NaCl stress was non-significant on chlorophyll a and b contents, chlorophyll a/b ratio, RWC, RMP and leaf and root Cl⁻, K⁺ and P contents; however, salt stress markedly enhanced C _i /C _a ratio, free proline content and leaf and root Na⁺ concentrations in all sunflower cultivars. Of all cultivars, cv. Hysun-38 was higher in gas exchange characteristics, RWC and proline contents as compared with the other cultivars. Overall, none of the earlier-mentioned physiological attributes except leaf K⁺/Na⁺ ratio was found to be effective in discriminating the eight sunflower cultivars as the response of each cultivar to salt stress appraised using various physiological attributes was cultivar-specific.     

Modulation in growth,photosynthetic efficiency,activity of antioxidants and mineral ions by foliar application of glycinebetaine on pea (Pisum sativum L.) under salt stress

A pot experiment was carried out to explore the role of glycinebetaine (GB) as foliar spray foliar on two pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties (Pea 09 and Meteor Fsd) under saline and non-saline conditions. Thirty-two-day-old plants were subjected to two levels 0 and 150 mM of NaCl stress. Salt treatment was applied in full strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Three levels 0, 5 and 10 mM of GB were applied as foliar treatment on 34-day-old pea plants. After 2 weeks of foliar treatment with GB data for various growth and physiochemical attributes were recorded. Rooting-medium applied salt (150 mM NaCl) stress decreased growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence and soluble protein contents, while increasing the activities of enzymatic (POD and CAT) and non-enzymatic (ascorbic acid and total phenolics) antioxidant enzymes. Foliar application of GB decreased root and shoot Na⁺ under saline conditions, while increasing shoot dry matter, root length, root fresh weight, stomatal conductance (g _s), contents of seed ascorbic acid, leaf phenolics, and root and shoot Ca²⁺ contents. Of three GB (0, 5, 10 mM) levels, 10 mM proved to be more effective in mitigating the adverse effects of salinity stress. Overall, variety Pea 09 showed better performance in comparison to those of var. Meteor Fsd under both normal and salinity stress conditions. GB-induced modulation of seed ascorbic acid, leaf phenolics, g _s, and root Ca²⁺ values might have contributed to the increased plant biomass, reduction of oxidative stress, increased osmotic adjustment and better photosynthetic performance of pea plants under salt stress.     

Ecophysiological adaptation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calligonum roborovskii</Emphasis> to decreasing soil water content along an altitudinal gradient in the Kunlun Mountains,central Asia

To understand the ecophysiological adaptation mechanisms of Calligonum roborovskii to altitude variation, this study analyzed chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), Chl (a + b), carotenoid (Car), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbate (AsA), proline (Pro), membrane permeability (MP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf nitrogen content based on mass (N_mass), and the activities of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves of plants inhabiting different altitudes (A1: 2100 m, A2: 2350 m, A3: 2600 m) on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains. The results showed that Chl a, Chl b, Chl (a + b), SLA, N_mass, and the activity of CAT increased with increasing altitude. LMA, MP, MDA, Car, Pro, AsA, O₂⁻, H₂O₂ and the activities of SOD, POD, and APX decreased with increasing altitude. The test results also showed that, changes in venvironmental factors along an altitudinal gradient are not obvious. Soil water content is the main ecological factor. With increasing altitude, soil water content increased significantly. More non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants played an important role in eliminating intracellular ROS. They kept the cell membrane in a stable state and ensured the normal growth of C. roborovskii.     

Triacontanol modulates photosynthesis and osmoprotectants in canola (Brassica napus L.) under saline stress

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with triacontanol (TRIA) in canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivar (RBN-3060) under saline stress. Canola seeds were soaked in three levels of TRIA (0, 0.5, and 1 mg L^?1) for 12 hours. Three levels of salt stress (0, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) in full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution were applied to 56-days-old plants. Salt stress caused a significant reduction in growth, gas exchange, photochemical quenching (qP), and shoot and root K⁺ contents, while increased leaf glycine betaine, free proline, and shoot Na⁺ contents. Pre-sowing seed treatment with TRIA increased shoot fresh weight, number of seeds per plant, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, ratio of chlorophyll a/b, qP, electron transport rate, shoot and root K⁺ contents, and free proline and glycine betaine contents of canola plants at various TRIA levels under nonsaline or saline conditions.     

Salicylic Acid Confers Salt Tolerance in Giant Juncao Through Modulation of Redox Homeostasis,Ionic Flux,and Bioactive Compounds: An Ionomics and Metabolomic Perspective of Induced Tolerance Responses

We investigated the stimulatory and/or inhibitory role of exogenous SA in alleviating the salt stress (250, 500 mM NaCl) in Pennisetum giganteum (Giant Juncao) through coordinated induction of redox homeostasis, ionic flux, and bioactive compounds. Salt stress radically impaired root and shoot (growth, fresh, and dry biomass as well as tolerance indices), leaf relative water content, and leaf chlorophyll a/b ratio of Juncao due to higher Na⁺ and Cl^? accumulation followed by H₂O₂ generation, lipid peroxidation (MDA contents), and electrolyte leakage. However, the innate defense response of Juncao counteracted salt-induced damages by osmolytes accumulation combined with orchestrating antioxidants and ionic homeostasis mechanisms. Furthermore, the application of SA had an incremental impact on the development and productivity of high-salinity-exposed Juncao plants by increasing root length, plant biomass, tolerance indices, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and protein contents. Furthermore, SA treatment considerably decreased Na⁺ and Cl^? toxicity by orchestrating antioxidant enzymes, ion transport, and secondary metabolism. Notably, the application of SA substantially mitigated the adverse effects of high salinity concentration (500 mM NaCl), owing to the simultaneous upregulation in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, nutrient ion flux, alongside chlorogenic acid production. Thus, we concluded that SA enhanced the tolerance capability of Juncao plants in a NaCl concentration-dependent manner. The findings of this study will enable environmentalists and pharmacologists to gain dual farm-level benefits, including animal therapeutics and restoration of salinized soils for arable purposes.

     

Expression of a Suaeda salsa Vacuolar H+/Ca2+ Transporter Gene in Arabidopsis Contributes to Physiological Changes in Salinity

A cDNA (SsCAX1) encoding a tonoplast-localised Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchanger was isolated from a C₃ halophyte Suaeda salsa (L.). To clarify the role of SsCAX1 in plant salt tolerance, Arabidopsis plants expressing SsCAX1 were treated with NaCl. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants displayed decreased salt tolerance. Although Na⁺ content was close to wild-type plants, transgenic plants accumulated more Ca²⁺ and retained less K⁺ in leaves than the wild-type plants in salinity. Furthermore, transgenic lines held higher leaf membrane leakage than wild-type lines under NaCl treatment. In addition, transgenic plants showed a 23% increase in vacuolar H⁺-ATPase activity compared with wild-type plants in normal condition. But the leaf V-H⁺-ATPase activity had subtle changes in transgenic plants, while significantly increased in wild-type plants under saline condition. These results suggested that regulated expression of Ca²⁺/H⁺ antiport was critical for maintenance of cation homeostasis and activity of V-H⁺-ATPase under saline condition.     

Exogenous glycinebetaine and humic acid improve growth,nitrogen status,photosynthesis, and antioxidant defense system and confer tolerance to nitrogen stress in maize seedlings

Abiotic stresses, including nitrogen stress (NS), can hamper photosynthesis and cause oxidative damage to plants. Upregulation of the antioxidative defense system and photosynthesis induced by exogenous glycinebetaine (GB) and humic acid (HA) can mitigate the inhibitory effects of NS on plants. In the present investigation, the beneficial effects of exogenously applied GB and HA were examined on growth, leaf N status, photosynthesis, lipid peroxidation, and activities of some key antioxidant enzymes in the seedlings of maize cv. Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) exposed to NS. NS caused a significant reduction in total dry matter of seedlings of ZD958, but both GB and HA proved effective in mitigating this inhibition, hence, the beneficial effects of GB being more pronounced than those of HA. NS led to a considerable decrease in leaf total N and endogenous GB contents, stomatal conductance (g _s), net photosynthetic rate (P _n), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i), and activities of two key C₄ photosynthesis enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) as well as of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). This treatment caused an increase in lipid peroxidation, but showed no effect on POD activity. Exogenous application of varying doses of GB resulted in a decrease in lipid peroxidation and C _i, and an increase in leaf total N and endogenous glycinebetaine (EGB) content, P _n, and activities of RuBPCase, PEPCase, SOD, and catalase (CAT) under NS. In contrast, application of different doses of HA resulted in a decrease in lipid peroxidation, an increase in P _n, g _s, and C _i as well as SOD, CAT, and POD activities without increasing leaf total N and EGB content, and enhanced RuBPCase and PEPCase activities. The present study suggests that exogenous application of GB and HA can induce tolerance in maize plants to NS, but through the regulation of different mechanisms.     

H_2S对干旱胁迫下白三叶幼苗抗氧化防御能力的影响

以‘拉丁诺’白三叶(Trifolium repens cv.‘Ladino’)为试验材料,研究外源H2S处理对PEG6 000(聚乙二醇)模拟干旱胁迫下白三叶叶片相对含水量(RWC)、膜脂过氧化、活性氧成分、抗氧化酶、抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环代谢和非酶抗氧化物质的影响,以揭示H_2S调控白三叶抗旱性的生理机制。结果显示:(1)0.2 mmol/L的外源NaHS(H_2S供体)能显著提高干旱胁迫下白三叶的叶片相对含水量,维持显著较低的电解质渗透率(EL)和丙二醛(MDA)含量。(2)与直接干旱胁迫相比,干旱胁迫下外源添加NaHS处理的白三叶叶片内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著增强,抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环代谢中关键酶抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)、单脱水抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性及其抗氧化中间产物抗坏血酸(AsA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量也显著提高。(3)叶片类黄酮、总酚和原花青素的含量在一定的胁迫时间范围内亦显著增加,并伴随着活性氧成分O_2~(-·)产生速率和H_2O_2水平降低。研究认为,外源H2S能通过促进干旱胁迫下白三叶体内的多重抗氧化防御能力来提高其幼苗的抗旱性。     

Impact of exogenously applied tocopherol on some key physio-biochemical and yield attributes in mungbean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> (L.) Wilczek] under limited irrigation regimes

The lipophilic vitamin E, α-Tocopherol (α-Toc), has been considered as a potent cellular antioxidant naturally occurring in biological membranes. It plays a number of key metabolic roles in plants exposed to various stressful cues. A field experimental was conducted on mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] under varying water-limited regimes and the plants were sprayed with four levels of α-Toc (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg L^?1) at the vegetative stage of plant growth. The results showed that limited field irrigation regimes (desiccated conditions) caused a marked reduction in growth parameters (shoot and root fresh and dry weights; shoot and root lengths), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b), total soluble proteins (TSP) and yield attributes (number of pods, seeds per plant, weight of ripened pods and 100-seeds weight), while, in contrast, water deficiency induced an increase in phenolics, proline, glycine betaine (GB), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), reducing and non-reducing sugars, total free amino acids, endogenous tocopherol levels, and activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). However, the foliar spray of α-Toc significantly improved shoot and root fresh and dry weights, shoot and root lengths, chlorophyll a and b contents, phenolics, proline, GB, reducing and non-reducing sugars, TSP, total free amino acids, endogenous tocopherol level, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT), as well as yield parameters. On the other hand, it significantly decreased the MDA and H₂O₂ levels. Of all varying levels of α-Toc used, 100 mg L^?1 was most effective in causing enhanced accumulation of ascorbic acid (AsA), MDA, and cellular tocopherols particularly in cv. Cyclone 7008, while proline and catalase in cv. Cyclone 8009. Of both cultivars, Cyclone 7008 was superior to the other cultivar in proline, TSP, SOD, and POD enzymes, but cv. Cyclone 8009 being superior in shoot fresh weights, root fresh weight, shoot and root lengths, chlorophyll a and b, phenolics, H₂O₂, AsA, MDA, CAT, number of pods, seeds, weight of ripened pods, and weight of 100 seeds under dry land conditions. Overall, exogenously applied tocopherol improved yield and myriad of key physio-biochemical attribute in mungbean.     

The Effects of Exogenous Ascorbic Acid on the Mechanism of Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Nitrate Uptake in Two Rice Cultivars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) Under Aluminum Stress

As a major antioxidant in plants, ascorbic acid (AsA) plays a very important role in the response to aluminum (Al) stress. However, the effect of AsA on the mitigation of Al toxicity and the mechanism of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ^?–N) uptake by plants under Al stress are unclear. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was conducted using peak 1 A rice (sterile line, Indica) with weaker resistance to Al and peak 1 superior 5 rice (F1 hybrid, Indica) with stronger resistance to Al to study the effects of exogenous AsA on the physiological and biochemical responses to NO₃ ^?–N uptake by rice roots exposed to 50 μmol L^?1 Al. Al stress induced increases in the concentrations of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) and in the activities of antioxidant enzymes [such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)]. Plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase and H⁺-pump activities, endogenous AsA content and NO₃ ^?–N uptake in rice roots decreased under Al stress. After treatment with 2 mmol L^?1 exogenous AsA combined with Al, concentrations of H₂O₂ and MDA in roots notably decreased, and endogenous AsA content and activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX in rice roots increased significantly; furthermore, the interaction of PM H⁺-ATPase and the 14-3-3 protein was also enhanced significantly compared with that in control plants without AsA treatment, which clearly increased NO₃ ^?–N uptake. Based on all of these data, the application of AsA significantly reduced the accumulation of H₂O₂ and MDA and increased the activities of PM H⁺-ATPase and the H⁺-pump by increasing the endogenous AsA content, the antioxidant enzyme activities, and the interaction of PM H⁺-ATPase and the 14-3-3 protein in the roots of the two rice cultivars under Al stress, thereby improving the uptake of NO₃ ^?–N in rice.     

Biochemical characterization of maize (Zea mays L.) for salt tolerance

The inherent differences for salt tolerance in two maize cultivars (Agatti-2002 and Sahiwal-2002) were evaluated in pot experiments. Plants were grown in half-strength of Hoagland nutrient solution added with 0, 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 mM of NaCl. Salt stress markedly reduced the shoot and root lengths and fresh and dry masses. Reduction in growth attributes was more pronounced in cv. Agatti-2002 than cv. Sahiwal-2002. Both maize cultivars exhibited significant perturbations in important biochemical attributes being employed for screening the crops for salt tolerance. Cultivar Sahiwal-2002 was found salt tolerant as compared to cv. Agatti-2002 because it exhibited lower levels of H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA) and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, cultivar Sahiwal-2002 exhibited less salt-induced degradation of photosynthetic pigments, lower levels of toxic Na⁺ and Cl^?  and higher endogenous levels of K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. The results indicate that salt stress induced a marked increase in MDA, H₂O₂, relative membrane permeability, total soluble proteins and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase andascorbate peroxidase). Moreover, increase in endogenous levels of Na⁺ and Cl^?  and decrease in K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and photosynthetic pigments were recorded in plants grown under salinity regimes.     

Exogenous application of mannitol and thiourea regulates plant growth and oxidative stress responses in salt-stressed maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The mechanism of growth amelioration in salt-stressed maize (Zea mays L. cv., DK 647 F1) by exogenously applied mannitol (M) and thiourea (T) was investigated. Maize seedlings were planted in pots containing perlite and subjected to 0 or 100 mM NaCl in full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution. Two levels of M (15 and 30 mM) or T (3.5 and 7.0 mM) were sprayed to the leaves of maize seedlings 10 days after germination. Salinity stress caused considerable reduction in plant dry biomass, chlorophyll content, and relative water content in the maize plants. However, it increased the activities of catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC 1.10.3.1), and levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and electrolyte leakage, but it did not change peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7) activity. Foliar application of M or T was found to be effective in checking salt-induced shoot growth inhibition. Exogenously applied M or T reduced the activities of CAT, SOD, POD, and PPO in the salt-treated maize plants compared to those in the plants not fed with these organic compounds. Salinity increased Na⁺ contents but decreased those of K⁺, Ca^{2 +}, and P in the leaves and roots of the maize plants. Foliar-applied M or T increased the contents of K⁺, Ca^{2 +}, and P, but decreased that of Na⁺ in the salt-stressed maize plants with respect to those of the salt-stressed plants not supplied with mannitol or thiourea. Mannitol was found to be more effective than thiourea in improving salinity tolerance of maize plants in terms of growth and physiological attributes measured in the present study.     

Nitrogen Form Alters Hormonal Balance in Salt-treated Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Mixed nitrate/ammonium fertilization can partially alleviate the negative effects of salinity on growth of some plant species compared to all-nitrate or all-ammonium fertilization. To gain insights about the mechanisms involved, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Moneymaker) plants were grown hydroponically for 3 weeks with two NO₃ ⁻/NH₄ ⁺ fertilization regimes (6/0.5 and 5/1.5; N_total = 6.5 mM) in the absence (control) or presence of salt stress (100 mM NaCl). Ammonium enrichment had no effect on growth and other parameters under control conditions. Under salinity, however, ammonium enrichment improved shoot and root biomass by 20% and maintained leaf PSII efficiency close to control levels. These changes were related to higher leaf K⁺, NO₃ ⁻, and NH₄ ⁺ concentrations and activities of the N-assimilatory enzymes glutamate synthase (GOGAT) and glutamine synthase (GS) in the leaves. Ammonium enrichment also attenuated the salt-induced increase in leaf abscisic acid (ABA) concentration and decrease in leaf concentrations of indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) and the cytokinins trans-zeatin (tZ) and trans-zeatin riboside (tZR). Enhanced cytokinin status was probably due to maintenance of root-to-shoot cytokinin transport and decreased leaf induction of the cytokinin-degrading enzyme cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) under ammonium-enriched conditions. It is concluded that nitrogen form modifies salinity-induced physiological responses and that these modifications are associated with changes in plant hormone status.     

Does exogenous application of ascorbic acid modulate growth,photosynthetic pigments and oxidative defense in okra (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abelmoschus esculentus</Emphasis> (L.) Moench) under lead stress?

Seed priming increases tolerance of plants against various environmental stresses. Although ample literature is available that depicts the beneficial effects of priming under different environmental stresses, the information on induction of tolerance to Pb stress through seed priming with ascorbic acid (AsA) is limited. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the effect of seed priming with AsA (50 and 100 mg L^?1), hydropriming and without priming (control) on physiochemical processes of okra cultivars (Subz-Pari and Arka Anamika) under Pb stress (0, 100 mg L^?1). Pb stress caused a considerable decline in plant growth and photosynthetic pigments. Contrarily, Pb stress exhibited rise in the contents of total amino acids, free proline, total soluble proteins and AsA. The POD, CAT, and SOD activities were recorded highest at 100 mg L^?1 of Pb. Moreover, Pb stress markedly increased H₂O₂ and MDA levels that triggered oxidative stress. However, plants raised from seed primed with AsA and water exhibited better growth and had higher chlorophylls, free proline, total proteins, total amino acids, AsA and activities of enzymatic antioxidants. Priming with AsA (50 mg L^?1) induced better tolerance to Pb stress in okra plants. Plants of cv. Arka Anamika exhibited greater tolerance to Pb than that of cv. Subz-Pari as was evident from higher plant fresh and dry masses.     

Alleviation of salinity stress in broccoli using foliar urea or methyl-jasmonate: analysis of growth,gas exchange,and isotope composition

We studied the effects of foliar application of urea or methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) on the salinity tolerance of broccoli plants (Brassisca oleracea L. var. italica). Plant dry weight, leaf CO₂ assimilation, and root respiration were reduced significantly under moderate saline stress (40 mM NaCl) but application of either urea or MeJA maintained growth, gas exchange parameters, and leaf N–NO₃ ⁻ concentrations at values similar to those of non-salinized plants. Additionally, when these two foliar treatments were applied leaf Na⁺ concentration was reduced compared with control plants grown at 40 mM NaCl. However, at a higher salt concentration (120 mM NaCl), no effect of the foliar applications was found on these parameters. Salinity also decreased leaf δ¹⁵N but increased δ¹³C. Our study shows the feasibility of using foliar urea or MeJA to improve tolerance under moderate saline stress.     

Kinetics of xylem loading,membrane potential maintenance,and sensitivity of K+‐permeable channels to reactive oxygen species: physiological traits that differentiate salinity tolerance between pea and barley

Salt sensitive (pea) and salt tolerant (barley) species were used to understand the physiological basis of differential salinity tolerance in crops. Pea plants were much more efficient in restoring otherwise depolarized membrane potential thereby effectively decreasing K⁺ efflux through depolarization‐activated outward rectifying potassium channels. At the same time, pea root apex was 10‐fold more sensitive to physiologically relevant H₂O₂ concentration and accumulated larger amounts of H₂O₂ under saline conditions. This resulted in a rapid loss of cell viability in the pea root apex. Barley plants rapidly loaded Na⁺ into the xylem; this increase was only transient, and xylem and leaf Na⁺ concentration remained at a steady level for weeks. On the contrary, pea plants restricted xylem Na⁺ loading during the first few days of treatment but failed to prevent shoot Na⁺ elevation in the long term. It is concluded that superior salinity tolerance of barley plants compared with pea is conferred by at least three different mechanisms: (1) efficient control of xylem Na⁺ loading; (2) efficient control of H₂O₂ accumulation and reduced sensitivity of non‐selective cation channels to H₂O₂ in the root apex; and (3) higher energy saving efficiency, with less ATP spent to maintain membrane potential under saline conditions.     

Effects of salt stress on the growth,ion content,stomatal behaviour and photosynthetic capacity of a salt-sensitive species,Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Phaseolus vulgaris (cv. Hawkesbury Wonder) was grown over a range of NaCl concentrations (0–150 mM), and the effects on growth, ion relations and photosynthetic performance were examined. Dry and fresh weight decreased with increasing external NaCl concentration while the root/shoot ratio increased. The Cl^- concentration of leaf tissue increased linearly with increasing external NaCl concentration, as did K⁺ concentration, although to a lesser degree. Increases in leaf Na⁺ concentration occurred only at the higher external NaCl concentrations (100 mM). Increases in leaf Cl^- were primarily balanced by increases in K⁺ and Na⁺. X-ray microanalysis of leaf cells from salinized plants showed that Cl^- concentration was high in both the cell vacuole and chloroplast-cytoplasm (250–300 mM in both compartments for the most stressed plants), indicating a lack of effective intracellular ion compartmentation in this species. Salinity had little effect on the total nitrogen and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) content per unit leaf area. Chlorophyll per unit leaf area was reduced considerably by salt stress, however. Stomatal conductance declined substantially with salt stress such that the intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) was reduced by up to 30%. Salinization of plants was found to alter the ¹³C value of leaves of Phaseolus by up to 5 and this change agreed quantitatively with that predicted by the theory relating carbon-isotope fractionation to the corresponding measured intercellular CO₂ concentration. Salt stress also brought about a reduction in photosynthetic CO₂ fixation independent of altered diffusional limitations. The initial slope of the photosynthesis versus C _i response declined with salinity stress, indicating that the apparent in-vivo activity of RuBP carboxylase was decreased by up to 40% at high leaf Cl^- concentrations. The quantum yield for net CO₂ uptake was also reduced by salt stress.Abbreviations and symbols A net CO₂ assimilation rate - C _a ambient CO₂ concentration - C _i intercellular CO₂ concentration - RuBP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate - ¹³C ratio of ¹³C to ¹²C relative to standard limestone     

Effectiveness of potassium sulfate in mitigating salt-induced adverse effects on different physio-biochemical attributes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

To assess whether foliar application of K+S as potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) could alleviate the adverse effects of salt on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. SF-187) plants, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. There were two NaCl levels (0 and 150 mM) applied to the growth medium and six levels of K+S as K₂SO₄ (NS (no spray), WS (spray of water+0.1% Tween 20 solution), 0.5% K+0.21% S, 1.0% K+0.41% S, 1.5% K+0.62% S, and 2.0% K+0.82% S in 0.1% Tween-20 solution) applied two times foliarly to non-stressed and salt-stressed sunflower plants. Salt stress markedly repressed the growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, water relations and photosynthetic attributes, quantum yield (F_v/F_m), leaf and root K⁺, Mg²⁺, P, Ca²⁺, N as well as K⁺/Na⁺ ratios, while it enhanced the cell membrane permeability, and leaf and root Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations. Foliar application of potassium sulfate significantly improved growth, achene yield, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, leaf turgor and enhanced shoot and leaf K⁺ of the salt-stressed sunflower plants, but it did not improve leaf and root Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, P, Ca²⁺, N as well as K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. The most effective dose of K+S for improving growth and achene yield was found to be 1.5% K+0.62% S and 1% K+0.41% S, respectively. Improvement in growth of sunflower plants due to exogenously applied K₂SO₄ was found to be linked to enhanced photosynthetic capacity, water use efficiency, leaf turgor and relative water content.