On the Effect of Salinity on Proline, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Protein in Zygophyllum

Salinity is a potential problem for arid and semi-arid regions in the world. Although all kinds of soil have an amount of soluble salt, which is essential for crop production, it becomes problematic when as a result of evaporation of soil water, the concentration of accumulated salt increases to a point which is harmful to plant growth. Based on their responses to salinity, plants are divided into two groups: halophyte and glycophytes. A halophyte is a plant that grows in waters of high salinity. Zygophyllum atriplicoides Fisch & CA is from family Zygophyllaceae. It is a salt-tolerant plant and is very valuable for the rehabilitation of rangelands and arid deserts in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine some physiological responses of the plant including proline, the activity of catalase enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase as well as the amount of soluble proteins in a pot. Based on the results of the analysis above, adding salt led to a significant increase in prolinein leaves. In addition,adding salt (concentration of 200 mM NaCl) significantly increased enzyme activity of ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, but catalase activity level did not show significant changes. Increasing salt concentration (100 mM NaCl) led to a significant increase in soluble proteins of leaves

Keywords:

Zygophyllum , salinity , physiological responses , osmotic potential