Abstract:
Salinity induces wide range of responses in plants. Since the Cryptocoryne ci/iata can
tolerate salinity by using its defense mechanism, the resistance level of this plant was
studied in order to see how far they can survive with salinity. Thus, the resistant type
of this plant might be produced. The objective of this experiment was to investigate
the effects of different NaCl concentrations on the a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and
carotenoid concentration in C. ci/iata cultures. C. ciliata cultures were treated with 0,
25, 50 and 100 mM of NaCl for 28 days in solid MS medium. All the antioxidant
levels were measured every 0, 1, 2, 7, 14 and 28 days of treatment periods. The NaCl
initially decreased the a-tocopherol concentration up to 2 days of treatment and longer
incubation period tend to increase the a-tocopherol concentration and decreased
afterwards. At the earlier stage of treatment, the ascorbic acid and carotenoid
concentration decreased up to day 1 of treatment and longer treatment period
increased the ascorbic acid concentration until day 2 of treatment period and slowly
decreased at the later stages of treatment. Similar result was obtained in carotenoid
concentration except that the carotenoid concentration increased at the later stage of
treatment period. Results indicated all treatments induced the oxidative stress in C.
ciliata cultures where a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and carotenoid concentrations were
affected differently in C. ciliata cultures.
