Abstract
Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss] is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide yet drought and salinity stress significantly reduced its growth and yield. The research was carried out in order to test the effect of salinity on osmoprotectants (total soluble sugars, proline), antioxidant molecules (ascorbate, α-tocopherol) and ionic content from the dry sample of the leaves in introgression lines and varieties of Brassica juncea. Permanent saline plots are maintained in the field of soil sciences where different doses of sodium carbonate were given to maintain the relative sodium bicarbonate (RSC) to three levels. The results revealed the significant effect of salinity on biochemical attributes as well as on ionic content. Increase in total soluble sugars, proline, ascorbate, α-tocopherol and Na+ ion whereas rest of the ions Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ decreased with increased salinity levels. Increased accumulation of Na+ increased the Na+/K+ ratio and decreased the K+/Na+. Significant finding among the introgression lines and varieties revealed low Na+ and high K+ correspondingly Na+/K+ low and K+/Na+ ratio. Decreased calcium and magnesium ion resulted in decline in chlorophyll content and membrane stability under saline conditions while decreased K+ concentration regulated the opening and closing of stomata thus hampering photosynthesis.
Highlights
Brassicaceae or cruciferae is a medium sized nearly crucial family of flowering plant
The research was carried out in order to test the effect of salinity on osmoprotectants, antioxidant molecules and ionic content from the dry sample of the leaves in introgression lines and varieties of Brassica juncea
Total soluble sugars Total soluble sugars improved under increased salinity by 14.9%, 25.6% and 34.9%with relative sodium bicarbonate (RSC) 3, RSC 6.5 and RSC 10 respectively over non-saline condition
Summary
Brassicaceae or cruciferae is a medium sized nearly crucial family of flowering plant. Osmoprotectants or compatible solutes are small organic molecules with neutral charge and low toxicity at high concentrations that act as osmolytes and help organisms survive extreme osmotic stress [6]. Under stress conditions such as drought or high salinity plants naturally produce or take up osmoprotectants which show increased survival rates. Osmoprotectants can prevent the photo system-salt interactions, reducing ROS production so total soluble sugars and proline has a key role in osmotic regulation in plants. The enhanced sugars in response to stress possibly acts as compatible solutes in the stabilization of biological structures and the bimolecular proline protects the enzymes, stabilize the machinery of Corresponding author: Pushp Sharma Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics
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