Effects of salinity on the a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and carotenoid concentration in Cryptocoryne ciliata cultures

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.