Salinity-induced changes in two cultivars of Vigna radiata: responses of antioxidative and proline metabolism

The influence of increasing salinity stress on plant growth, antioxidant enzymes and proline metabolism in two cultivars of Vigna radiata L. (cv. Pusa Bold and cv. CO 4) was investigated. Salt stress was imposed on 30-days-old cultivars with four different concentrations of NaCl (0, 100, 200 and 300 mM). The roots and shoots of CO 4 showed greater reduction in fresh weight, dry weight and water content when compared to Pusa Bold with increasing salt stress. Under salinity stress, the roots and shoots of CO 4 exhibited higher Na+: K+ ratio than Pusa Bold. The activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were found to be higher in the leaves of Pusa Bold than in CO 4, whereas oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentration was found to be higher in the leaves of CO 4 compared to those in Pusa Bold. Our studies on oxidative damage in two Vigna cultivars showed lower levels of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 concentration in Pusa Bold than in CO 4 under salt stress conditions. High accumulation of proline and glycine betaine under salt stress was also observed in Pusa Bold when compared to CO 4. The activities of proline biosynthetic enzymes were significantly high in Pusa Bold. However, under salinity stress, Pusa Bold showed a greater decline in proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) activity compared to CO 4. Our data in this investigation demonstrate that oxidative stress plays a major role in salt-stressed Vigna cultivars and Pusa Bold has efficient antioxidative characteristics which could provide better protection against oxidative damage in leaves under salt-stressed conditions.