title: Role of xylo-oligosaccharides in protection against salinity-induced adversities in Chinese cabbage.
abstract: Soil salinity is a stringent abiotic constraint limiting crop growth and productivity. The present study was carried out to appraise the role of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOSs) in improving the salinity tolerance of Chinese cabbage. Salinity stress (0.5% NaCl solution) and four levels (0, 40, 80, 120 mg L(-1)) of XOSs were imposed on 20-day-old plants cultured under controlled conditions. Salinity stress decreased the aboveground fresh biomass, photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, water use efficiency, and chlorophyll contents but increased the stomatal limitation value of Chinese cabbage compared with control. Such physiological interferences, disturbances in plant water relations, and visually noticeable growth reductions in Chinese cabbage were significantly alleviated by the addition of XOSs under salinity stress. Under salinity stress, application of XOSs significantly enhanced the activities of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase) and non-enzymatic (ascorbate, carotene) antioxidants and reduced the malondialdehyde content in the leaves of Chinese cabbage. The XOS-applied plants under salinity stress also recorded higher soluble sugars, proline, and soluble protein content in their leaves. Exposure of salinity stress increased the ratio of Na(+)/K(+), Na(+)/Ca(2+), and Na(+)/Mg(2+) in shoot as well as root of Chinese cabbage, however, XOS application significantly reduced these ratios particularly in shoot. Lower levels of XOSs (40 or 80 mg L(-1)) were more effective for most of the studied attributes. The greater salinity tolerance and better growth in these treatments were related with enhanced antioxidative defense system, reduced lipid peroxidation, increased osmolyte accumulation, and maintenance of ionic balance.
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. shussain@webmail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Saddam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Bingxin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Mingjian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. wls@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lishu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001937:Brassica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005965:Glucuronates; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010940:Plant Proteins; C570991:xylooligosaccharide; D002734:Chlorophyll; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D011392:Proline; D010544:Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Antioxidants; Chinese cabbage; Gas exchange; Ionic balance; Salinity tolerance; Xylo-oligosaccharides