Abstract
Trehalose effectively preserves biological molecular structures under harsh environmental conditions. This study examined the protective effects of exogenous trehalose on pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) under salt stress. Ten-day-old pak choi seedlings were exposed to 150 mM NaCl with or without trehalose treatment. Trehalose treatment mitigated reductions in shoot and root weight, chlorophyll content, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities, as well as magnesium, potassium, sodium, soluble sugar, and soluble protein levels, and the potassium/sodium ratio. It also alleviated increases in malondialdehyde, superoxide radicals, and hydrogen peroxide compared with the control (0 mmol/L trehalose + 150 mmol/L NaCl). These findings suggest that exogenous trehalose treatment can mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress in pak choi.
