Physiological Response of Chinese Cabbage to Salt Stress

In order to understand the plant responses to salt stress (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl), Chinese cabbage seedlings grown up to two leaf stages by hydroponic culture were used. Fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll (Chl), antioxidant materials, polyamine content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and inorganic ion level were evaluated. Fresh and dry weights of Chinese cabbage increased with the increase in salinity while the optimal growth occurred at 50 mM NaCl. The Chl a, total Chl, carotenoid content, and Chl a/b ratio increased by the 6 days after treatment with 100 mM NaCI; however, the Chl b content decreased. Glutathione increased in the root of Chinese cabbage for 6 days. Dehydroascorbate increased remarkably by day 6 caused by the salt stress in both leaf and the root. While ascorbate peroxidase increased, the activity of catalase and glutathione reductase decreased gradually in the first leaf for 6 days. The Na+ content increased by 12.5-fold in the 3 days after treatment with 100 mM NaCI in the shoot, whereas the Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+ content measured in the same treatment decreased by 43 to 57%. Spermidine content decreased as salinity increased, but spermine content increased. The growth promotion, glutathione and ascorbic acid content in Chinese cabbage were increased by low salt stress, and shortening of the cultivation period for growth increase of Chinese cabbage is expected.