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Induction of salt tolerance in Azolla microphylla Kaulf through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and ion transport

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Abstract

Azolla microphylla plants exposed directly to NaCl (13 dsm-1) did not survive the salinity treatment beyond a period of one day, whereas plants exposed directly to 4 and 9 dsm-1 NaCl were able to grow and produce biomass. However, plants pre-exposed to NaCl (2 dsm-1) for 7 days on subsequent exposure to 13 dsm-1 NaCl were able to grow and produce biomass although at a slow rate and are hereinafter designated as pre-exposed plants. The pre-exposed and directly exposed plants distinctly differed in their response to salt in terms of lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation, activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, APX, and CAT, and Na+/K+ ratio. Efficient modulation of antioxidant enzymes coupled with regulation of ion transport play an important role in the induction of salt tolerance. Results show that it is possible to induce salt adaptation in A. microphylla by pre-exposing them to low concentrations of NaCl.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from Indian Council for Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to the Director and Joint Director (Research) and Head, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, for providing facilities and encouragement.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Gerard Abraham & Dolly Wattal Dhar

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  1. Gerard Abraham
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  2. Dolly Wattal Dhar
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Correspondence to Gerard Abraham.

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Handling Editor: Bumi Nath

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Abraham, G., Dhar, D.W. Induction of salt tolerance in Azolla microphylla Kaulf through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and ion transport. Protoplasma 245, 105–111 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-010-0147-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-010-0147-3

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