Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxidase Activity as Potential Indicators on Adaptability of Plants to Salinity Stress Condition

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether hydrogen peroxide content as well as peroxidase enzyme activity in the leaves of the cultivars can be used asindicators of the adaptability of plants to salinity stress conditions. For this purpose, leaves of 6 cultivated plant species: Cassaia siamea, Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia magium, Pithecellobium dulce, Combretum quadrangulare and Albizia lebbeck were collected from previously high salinity areas where the salinity of soil have been improved by plant cultivation, and the relationships between soil characteristics, plant species and the content of hydrogen peroxide and peroxidase enzyme activity were examined. The results show that C. quadrangulare has low hydrogen peroxide content and high peroxidase enzyme activity compared to other plants at the same electrical conductivity (0.16 dS m^-1), suggesting that this plant has less stress than the others. In other words, C. quadrangulare can adapt to high salinity stress conditions better than the others. A.magium and A.auriculiformi are the second best. Based on the present results, C. quadrangulare is the best promising species for growing on high salinity areas.