Cumulative effect of nitrogen and sulphur on Brassica juncea L. genotypes under NaCl stress
Journal Article
Al-Whaibi, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Firoz Mahammad, M. Masroor A. Khan and Mohamed H. . 2012
Publication Online URL:
Issue Number:
1
Volume Number:
249
Pages:
139 to 153
Publication Abstract:
In the present study, N and S assimilation, antioxidant enzymes activity, and yield were studied in N and S-treated plants of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss. (cvs. Chuutki and Radha) under salt stress. The treatments were given as follows: (1) NaCl90 mM+N0S0 mg kg-1 sand (control), (2) NaCl90mM+N60S0 mg kg-1 sand, (3) NaCl90 mM+N60S20 mg kg-1 sand, (4) NaCl90 mM+N60S40 mg kg-1 sand, and (5) NaCl90 mM+N60S60 mg kg-1 sand. The combined application of N (60 mg kg−1 sand) and S (40 mg kg−1 sand) proved beneficial in alleviating the adverse effect of salt stress on growth attributes (shoot length plant−1, fresh weight plant−1, dry weight plant−1, and area leaf−1), physio-biochemical parameters (carbonic anhydrase activity, total chlorophyll, adenosine triphosphate-sulphurylase activity, leaf N, K and Na content, K/Na ratio, activity of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and content of glutathione and ascorbate), and yield attributes (pods plant−1, seeds pod−1, and seed yield plant−1). Therefore, it is concluded that combined application of N and S induced the physiological and biochemical mechanisms ofBrassica. The stimulation of antioxidant enzymes activity and its synergy with N and S assimilation may be one of the important mechanisms that help the plants to tolerate the salinity stress and resulted in an improved yield.