Effect of salt stress on activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Ulmus pumila L.

Abstract

The injury tolerance of cell plasma membrane and the correlative enzymes activities of plasma-membrane protection system in the Ulmus pumila leaves treated by nine concentrations (0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2%, 1.5%, 1.8%, 2.1%, 2.4%, 3.0%) of Na₂CO₃ and NaHCO₃ mixtures were studied in a greenhouse of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. The rate of electrolyte leakage (REL) and SOD (Superoxide dismutase) activity in leaves of different samples were determined. Results showed that the REL in leaves of U. pumila presented a slowly increasing trend at the salt concentrations less than 1.5%, which indicated that cell plasma membrane of U. pumila leaves had rather strong resistance to the injury of salt ion, and had a significant increase at the salt concentrations more than 1.5%. The SOD activities in leaves of U. pumila presented an increased trend at salt concentrations less than 1.5%, the growth of seedlings did not decline, and tress and leaves had no symptom of injury, while the salt concentrations exceeded 1.5%, SOD activities sharply decreased and REL increased promptly.

Keywords

Ulmus pumila / Salt stress / Rate of electrolyte leakage (REL) / SOD