Exogenous ascorbic acid (vitamin C) increases resistance to salt stress and reduces lipid peroxidation.
The transition from reversible to permanent wilting, in whole tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. M82) following severe salt-stress by root exposure to 300 mM NaCl, was investigated. Salinized seedlings wilted rapidly but recovered if returned to non-saline nutrient solution within 6 h. However, after 9 h of salt-treatment 100% of the seedlings remained wilted and died. Remarkably, the addition of an anti-oxidant (0.5 mM ascorbic acid) to the root medium, prior to and during salt-treatment for 9 h, facilitated the subsequent recovery and long-term survival of c. 50% of the wilted seedlings. Other organic solutes without known anti-oxidant activity were not effective. Salt-stress increased the accumulation in roots, stems and leaves, of lipid peroxidation products produced by interactions with damaging active oxygen species. Additional ascorbic acid partially inhibited this response but did not significantly reduce sodium uptake or plasma membrane leakiness.
Shalata
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Plant Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
Neumann
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PM
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001205:Ascorbic Acid