Physiological effects of exogenous nitric oxide on Brassica juncea seedlings under NaCl stress

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the physiological effects of exogenous NO on potherb mustard (Brassica juncea Coss.) seedlings under salt stress. The plants were grown in Hogland nutrient solution for 15 d and treated with 150 mM NaCl, NO donor sodium nitropruside (SNP) and NO scavenger methylene blue (MB-1) for 4 d. The NaCl stress increased superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) and free proline contents, and decreased soluble protein content. However, the application of exogenous NO limited the production of MDA and free proline, while markedly promoted SOD, POD and APX activity. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.