Improvement of the Antioxidant Mechanism by Exogenous H2O2 in

Abstract

Salinity is an increasing environmental problem that directly affects crop production. Foliar application of H2O2 stimulates the abiotic stress tolerance of plants is an important process. As an effective signaling molecule, H2O2 can reduce the deleterious effects of salt stress in plants. Application of exogenous H2O2 and H2O2 synthase inhibitor (DPI) to the eggplant genotypes Mardin (salt-tolerant) and Artvin (salt-sensitive) showed differential tolerance to salinity. We investigated the possible involvement of MDA content and activities of Catalase and Superoxide dismutase in these eggplant genotypes by foliar applications to seedling of H2O2 and DPI 48 hours before exposure to moderate salinity. H2O2 and MDA content increased upon salt stress and decreased upon H2O2 application. Antioxidant enzyme analysis showed that foliar spraying of H2O2 augmented antioxidant enzyme activities. This study shows that the salt-tolerant Mardin genotype is more affected by exogenously applied H2O2 and DPI than the salt-sensitive Artvin genotype.