Effect of Salt Stress on Physico-biochemical Responses in Brassica juncea L. cv. Pusa Jai kisan

Abstract

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stress factors which affect plant growth, development and productivity. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of salinity on physical and biochemical levels in Brassica juncea in three and five days after treatment. Plant seedlings were treated with twenty five, fifty, and hundred millimolar of sodium chloride along with control plant. Shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of the plants showed gradual decrease with increasing in concentration of salt in both three days after treatment and five days after treatment. The pigments, soluble proteins, ascorbate and glutathione contents showed gradual decrease with increase in the concentrations of salt whereas, proline and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance contents showed gradual increase with increase in the concentrations of salt. Superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidise increased their enzymatic activities with increased salt concentration but the activity of catalase decreased with increased salt concentration.

Keywords: salinity, Brassica juncea, proline, pigment, ascorbate, glutathione