Effects of NaCl Stress on the Germination Characteristics of Amaranth Seeds

摘要

Effects of NaCl stress on the germination characteristics of amaranth seeds were investigated. The results were as follows: the germination rate, germination potential, taproot length, length of hypocotyledonary axis and proline content of amaranth were increased at lower NaCl concentrations, but then decreased with the increasing of NaCl concentrations. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly increased under NaCl stress, but malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased under higher NaCl concentration and had no significant change under lower NaCl concentration, compared to the control. These findings indicated that amaranth tolerates NaCl stress through increasing SOD activity and accumulating proline content.