Production of rocket under salt stress in hydroponic systems

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Salinity is one of the most limiting abiotic stresses in crop production worldwide. In this study, two rocket cultivars (Cultivada and Folha Larga) were grown in hydroponic system (nutrient film technique) under six treatments. The control comprised a nutrient solution without salt addition, and the other treatments contained different NaCl concentrations in the nutrient solution, resulting in the following electrical conductivities: 1.8, 3.8, 5.8, 7.8, 9.7 and 11.8 dS/m. The experimental design was completely randomized (6x2) with six levels of salt and two rockets cultivars, with four replicates per treatment. Increasing salinity reduced the fresh and dry mass of the leaves, roots, and the protein content, but the proline content was increased. The enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) increased with salinity. The activity of CAT and PPO of cv. Folha Larga was higher than of cv. Cultivada and coincided with a greater production of biomass in leaves and roots, showing the effectiveness of the antioxidative defense system in maintaining the growth of genotypes under increasing salinity of the solution.