Nitric Oxide Donor Sodium Nitroprusside Promotes Seed Germination and Ameliorates Adverse Effects of Salinity by Enhancing the Growth Indices and Photosynthetic Traits inBrassica juncea L. cv. Varuna

摘要

The objective of present work was to study the effect of nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on Brassica juncea L. cv. Varuna under salt stress. Experiments for seed germination and seedling growth of seven varieties were conducted to selectthe best variety for salinity tolerance and to optimize SNP dose. Seedlings were exposed to 100 mM NaCl and plants were sprayed with SNP (100 uM or 200 uM). Nitric oxide provided salinity resistance by significant augmentation in plant fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll pigments content and leaf area index. Gaseous exchange parameters such as net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency of plants also increased significantly (P<0.05) by SNP. Salt treated plants exhibited reduction in maximum quantum yield of PS II (9%) and total chlorophyll content (52%) while advanced electrolytic leakage (63%) as compared to the control. Results suggest that exogenous application of SNP could be an alternate economical approach forameliorating the adverse effects of salinity.