Salinity Induced Changes in Catalase, Peroxidase and Acid Phosphatase in Four Grass Species

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that adversely affect crop productivity and quality, and puts various problems to the plants either at the population, organism or even at the molecular level. In the present investigation seedlings of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng var. Mourdy and Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash were treated with increasing concentrations of sodium chloride i.e., 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mM and changes in the activities of catalase, peroxidase and acid phosphatase were determined. The activity of catalase was stimulated by 200 and 300 mM NaCl but it was initially decreased at lower levels of salinity. In Cymbopogon (36.30%), Cynodon (3.07%) and Pennisetum (0.94%), it was observed to be increased, while it was decreased in the leaves of Vetiveria (60.38%) at 300 mM NaCl concentration. The elevated activities of CAT under NaCl stress (300 mM and 200 mM) level probably came from an increased capacity for oxygen radical scavenging and maintenance of cellular membranes which indicates the relationship between salt tolerance and antioxidant defence system. The details of the activities of other two enzymes are discussed in the present paper.