Short-term changes in antioxidant response of Eutrema salsugineum exposed to severe salinity

Abstract

Salinity is one of the major constraints limiting plant productivity. Understanding the mechanism of salinity tolerance is a necessary step for improving crops yield in saline conditions. Eutrema salsugineum is a halophyte species and plant model for salinity tolerance mechanism study. Therefore, we studied the ability of E. salsugineum plants for their antioxidant response to 400 mM NaCl treatment. Changes in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and tocopherol contents, and kinetics of catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzyme activities were investigated. Results shows that, although increasing in the beginning of the salt treatment, the fast decrease in H2O2 and MDA levels afterwhile indicates the ability of E. salsugineum to alleviate oxidative damage and to maintain membrane integrity. Together, with the increase of tocopherol contents, the high enzymatic activity of CAT, SOD and POD reflect the highly efficient antioxidant response of E. salsugineum.