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cje ›› 2011, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (08): 1620-1626.

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Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on biomass and chlorophyll fluorescence of Catharanthus roseus seedlings under NaCl stress.

HU Fan-bo, LIU Ling, LONG Xiao-hua, LIU Zhao-pu**   

  1. Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Online:2011-08-08 Published:2011-08-08

Abstract: A pot experiment in greenhouse was carried out to study the effects of different concentration exogenous NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) on the biomass, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence of Catharanthus roseus seedlings under the stress of 50 mmol NaCl·L-1. Among the treatments with SNP, the seedlings treated with 50 mmol NaCl·L-1 + 0.1 mmol SNP·L-1 had the highest  fresh weight and dry weight, being significantly higher (18.8% and 13.9%, respectively) than the control (50 mmol NaCl·L-1). Similar to biomass, the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents in treatment 50 mmol NaCl·L-1 + 0.1 mmol SNP·L-1 were the highest, but had no significant differences with the control. The variation trend of chlorophyll a/b was more complicated. Applying 0.1 mmol·L-1 of SNP had the best effect in mitigating the salt damage to PSⅡreaction center, which increased the fluorescence (Fv), maximal fluorescence (Fm), light energy transformation efficiency of PSⅡ (Fv/Fm), activity potential of PSⅡ (Fv/Fo), actual photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ (φPSⅡ), and photochemical quenching (qP) markedly, and decreased the minimal fluorescence (Fo) and non-photochemical quenching (qN) obviously. To sum up, 0.1 mmol·L-1 of SNP had the best effect in protecting chlorophyll and PSⅡ reaction center against salt damage, and also, could promote the growth of the seedlings and enhance their tolerance to 50 mmol·L-1 NaCl stress.

Key words: Barley (Hordeum vulgare), Cadmium, Nutrients, Growth, Cultivar