Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an essential signaling molecule that mediates plant responses against several biotic and abiotic stresses. H2O2 pretreatment has emerged as a signaling way, inducing salt stress acclimation in plants. Here, we analyzed the effects of H2O2 leaf pretreatment on the non-enzymatic defense system (ascorbate and glutathione), plant growth, relative water content (RWC), relative chlorophyll content, H2O2 content, and gas exchange in maize plants under NaCl stress. The results showed that salinity reduced the leaf area and shoot and root dry mass as compared to control, and the leaf spraying with H2O2 significantly improved the growth of salt stressed plants. Photosynthesis and transpiration, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration were strongly decreased by salinity after 7 and 14 days of salt exposure; however, the decrease was lower in plants sprayed with H2O2. The improved gas exchange in H2O2-sprayed stressed plants correlated positively with higher RWC and relative chlorophyll content and lower leaf H2O2 accumulation under NaCl stress conditions. Ascorbate and glutathione did not play any obvious effects as non-enzymatic antioxidants in the ROS scavenging. In conclusion, the salt tolerance induced by H2O2 leaf pretreatment is attributed to a reduction in the H2O2 content and maintenance of RWC and chlorophyll in maize leaves. These characteristics allow maize plants to maintain high rates of photosynthesis under salt stress and improve the growth.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito do nitrato (NO3-) no crescimento e no acúmulo de solutos inorgânicos e orgânicos em plantas de milho submetidas à salinidade. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições, sob esquema fatorial 2×4, constando de oito tratamentos: dois níveis de salinidade (NaCl a 0 e 75 mM) e quatro concentrações de NO3- (0,5; 2,5; 5,0 e 7,5 mM) em sistema hidropônico. A massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes foi reduzida pela salinidade, porém isso foi menos evidente quando as plantas foram submetidas a concentrações de NO3- abaixo de 2,5 mM. O melhor crescimento das plantas foi observado na concentração aproximada de NO3- a 5,0 mM. Os teores de Na+ e Cl- aumentaram com a salinidade em todos os órgãos estudados, havendo maior acúmulo desses íons nas raízes. De modo geral, os teores de K+ foram pouco afetados por esse estresse. Com o aumento da concentração de NO3- no meio, houve melhora na absorção desse íon, levando à redução da absorção de Cl- e ao acúmulo de prolina e N-aminossolúveis. O estresse nutricional é mais limitante ao crescimento das plantas de milho que o estresse salino, cujos efeitos prejudiciais são minimizados por uma nutrição de NO3- adequada.

This work aimed to study the effect of nitrate (NO3-) on growth and accumulation of inorganic and organic solutes in maize plants subjected to salinity. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with five replications, and a 2×4 factorial scheme, consisting of eight treatments: two salinity levels (NaCl at 0 or 75 mM) and four different concentrations of NO3- (0.5, 2.5, 5.0 or 7.5 mM) in nutrient solution. The dry mass of shoots and roots was reduced by salinity, however, this was less evident when plants were exposed to concentrations of NO3- below 2.5 mM. The best growth was observed in the approximate concentration of 5.0 mM NO3-. The Na+ and Cl- contents increased with salinity in all organs studied, and the highest accumulation of these ions was observed in the roots. In general, the K+ content was not severely affected by this stress. With the increase of NO3- concentration in the medium, there was an improvement in the absorption of this ion, leading to reduced uptake of Cl- and the accumulation of proline and soluble amino acids. Nutritional stress is more limiting to plant growth of maize than the salt stress, with harmful effects being alleviated by an adequate nutrition of NO3-.

The growth and nutrient assimilation was evaluated in CaCl2- and CaSO4-supplemented cowpea plants subjected to salt stress (75 mM NaCl). The salinity significantly reduced the cowpea vegetative growth. The addition of CaCl2 in the growth medium did not significantly affect plant growth, while for the CaSO4, the beneficial effects of Ca2+ were moderate. Salinity increased the Na+, K+, Cl-, N and P content in the plants, however it decreased the content of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Increases in Ca2+ concentration in the nutrient solution caused decreases in the Na+ and Mg2+ contents and increases in Ca2+, K+, P, and Cl- contents. The supplemental Ca2+ may alleviate the Na+ toxicity and may improve nutritional and ionic balance in cowpea, but it cannot overcome the osmotic effects associated with the increased total salt concentration.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar os efeitos da salinidade em três estádios de desenvolvimento (ED) da plântula de cajueiro anão-precoce, a saber, germinação, emergência e estabelecimento da plântula, tentando estabelecer uma relação entre o desenvolvimento e o acúmulo de íons nos tecidos da plântula. Para isso, castanhas do clone CCP-06 de cajueiro anão precoce foram semeadas em bandejas de plástico contendo vermiculita umedecida com água destilada (0,0 dS m-1) ou soluções de NaCl com condutividades elétricas variando entre 3,0 e 18,0 dS m-1 e mantidas em casa de vegetação. Determinaram-se a percentagem de plântulas que alcançaram os ED estudados e o tempo e a velocidade com que isso ocorreu, assim como a matéria seca dos cotilédones e eixo embrionário e os teores de Na+, K+ e Cl- do eixo embrionário. A salinidade retardou o desenvolvimento das plântulas nos ED correspondentes à emergência e estabelecimento, entretanto apenas neste último ED é que a percentagem final de plântulas foi reduzida, acompanhada pela inibição da depleção das reservas cotiledonares e decréscimo da massa seca do eixo embrionário. Em todos os ED, os teores de Na+ e Cl- aumentaram com a salinidade, mas isso foi mais pronunciado nas plântulas estabelecidas, nas quais houve redução dos teores de K+. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que as plântulas de cajueiro anão precoce são mais sensíveis à salinidade durante a etapa de estabelecimento e que os efeitos deletérios desse estresse são mediados, pelo menos em parte, pelo acúmulo excessivo de íons Na+ e Cl- na plântula.

We investigated the effects of salinity on (germination, emergence and establishment of dwarf-cashew seedling) trying to establish a link between development and ion accumulation in the seedling tissues. In a greenhouse, cashew nuts were sown in trays containing vermiculite moistened with distilled water (0.0 dS m-1) or with NaCl solutions with electrical conductivities ranging between 3.0 to 18.0 dS m-1. We determined the percentage of seedlings that reached the development stages studied and the time and speed at which this occurred, as well as cotyledon and embryonic axis dry mass and the Na+, K+ and Cl- contents of embryonic axis. Salinity delayed emergence and establishment seedling, however, only the final percentage of established seedlings was reduced, accompanied by inhibition of depletion of reserves and a decrease in embryonic axis dry mass. Na+ and Cl- contents increased with salinity, but this was more pronounced in established seedlings, in which there was a reduction in content of K+. Results suggest that dwarf cashew seedlings are more sensitive to salinity during the establishment stage and that deleterious effects of salt stress are mediated, at least in part, by excessive accumulation of Na+ and Cl- in the seedling tissues.

Although it has been known that the seed's physiological potential affects its response to osmoconditioning and abiotic stresses, researches involving seed aging and priming associated to abiotic stresses are scarce. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of seed priming on salt tolerance in sorghum seedlings from seeds with two vigor levels (aged or non-aged) and to verify the organic and inorganic solute contributions as osmoregulators in NaCl-stressed seedlings from aged and primed seeds. The combinations of two seed vigor levels (aged or not), two seed types (primed or not) and two salinity levels (exposed to NaCl at 100 mM or not) were evaluated. In low physiological quality seeds (aged seeds), priming provided an attenuation of salinity's negative effects (0 or NaCl at 100 mM) on seedling growth. The accumulation of Na+ and Cl- ions in NaCl-stressed sorghum seedling shoot from primed seeds indicate a plant osmotic adjustment induced by seed priming, which was efficient in reducing the osmotic stress caused by salinity. Proline was the main organic solute that contributed to osmoregulation in NaCl-stressed sorghum seedling shoot and its levels increased due to seed priming. Changes in inorganic and organic solute contents, in both shoot and roots, could have been induced by seed priming and as a function of salt stress tolerance, although the changes in these organs were poorly related to each other.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito da nutrição de NO3- no crescimento, nas trocas gasosas e no acúmulo de solutos inorgânicos e orgânicos em plantas de sorgo sudão submetidas à salinidade. As plantas foram cultivadas em meio hidropônico e mantidas em casa de vegetação. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 (NO3- a 0,5 mM ou 8,0 mM) x 2 (NaCl a 0 mM ou 100 mM), com cinco repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de significância. A salinidade reduziu a área foliar e a massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes, sendo as plantas nutridas com NO3- a 8,0 mM menos afetadas que aquelas com NO3- a 0,5 mM. A condutância estomática, a fotossíntese, a transpiração e a relação entre a concentração interna e externa de CO2 foram aumentadas pela melhor nutrição de NO3-. Os teores de Na+ e Cl- foram significativamente aumentados pela salinidade em folhas e em raízes e os de K+ foram reduzidos apenas nas raízes. Apesar disso, as plantas nutridas com NO3- a 8,0 mM apresentaram os menores teores de Na+ e Cl- nas folhas sob estresse salino. A salinidade aumentou os teores de prolina e N-aminossolúveis e a maior concentração de NO3- no meio favoreceu o acúmulo desses solutos nas raízes de plantas estressadas. Uma adequada nutrição com NO3- foi capaz de reduzir os efeitos deletérios da salinidade nas plantas de sorgo sudão.

This work aimed to study the effect of NO3- nutrition on growth, on gas exchange and on inorganic and organic solutes accumulation of sudangrass plants subjected to salinity. Plants were grown in hydroponic medium and kept in a greenhouse. The experiment was a completely randomized design, following a factorial arrangement of 2 (NO3- at 0,5 mM or 8,0 mM) x 2 (NaCl at 0 mM or 100 mM), with five replications. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey's test at 5% of significance. Salinity reduced leaf area and dry weight of shoots and roots. However, plants growing in the 8.0 mM NO3- increased more than those growing in 0.5 mM. The stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, transpiration and the relationship between internal and external concentration of CO2 were increased by better nutrition NO3-. Na+ and Cl- contents were significantly increased by salinity in leaves and roots and the K+ content was reduced only in the roots. Nevertheless, plants fed with 8.0 mM NO3- had the lowest contents of Na+ and Cl- in leaves under salt stress. Salinity increased proline and amino acid contents and the higher NO3- concentration promoted the accumulation of these solutes in roots of stressed plants. Proper nutrition for NO3- was able to reduce deleterious effects of salinity in sudangrass plants.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos da aplicação foliar de H2O2 no crescimento e nos teores de solutos orgânicos e inorgânicos de plantas de milho desenvolvidas sob condições salinas. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, sob condições hidropônicas. Oito dias após a semeadura, as plântulas foram pulverizadas com água destilada (controle) ou solução aquosa de H2O2 na concentração de 10 mM e, 48 h após o início da pulverização, foram submetidas ao tratamento com NaCl a 80 mM. Foram realizadas duas coletas, com 96 e 240 h do início da pulverização. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em um arranjo fatorial 2 (NaCl a 0 ou 80 mM) x 2 (H2O2 a 0 ou 10 mM), com cinco repetições. Os dados de cada tempo de coleta (96 h ou 240 h) foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA) e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (P < 0,05). O pré-tratamento de pulverização das plantas de milho com H2O2 induziu aclimatação das plantas de milho ao estresse salino, revertendo parcialmente os efeitos deletérios da salinidade no crescimento. Este efeito pode ser atribuído, pelo menos em parte, a um maior acúmulo de proteínas solúveis, carboidratos solúveis e NO3-, bem como a um menor acúmulo de íons tóxicos (Na+ e Cl-) nas folhas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of H2O2 on plant growth and on the levels of organic and inorganic solutes in maize plants under salt stress. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse under hydroponic conditions. Eight days after sowing, the seedlings were sprayed with a 10 mM H2O2 solution or with distilled water (as a control). Forty-eight hours after the beginning of spraying, they were subjected to treatment with NaCl at 80 mM. Two harvests were carried out: 96 and 240 hours after the start of spraying. The experimental design was completely randomized following a factorial arrangment 2 (NaCl at 0 or 80 mM) x 2 (H2O2 at 0 or 10 mM), with five replicates. The data for each harvest time (96 or 240 h) were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were compared through Tukey's test (P < 0.05).The results showed that foliar application of H2O2 produced acclimation of the plants to salt stress, decreasing the deleterious effects of salinity on the growth of the maize. This effect can be attributed, at least partially, to a larger build up of proteins, and soluble carbohydrates and NO3- as well as lower levels of Cl- and Na+ in the foliage.

Resumo A salinidade é um estresse que altera o desenvolvimento dos vegetais, limitando a produção agrícola. Portanto, objetivou-se no presente trabalho avaliar o efeito desse estresse no potencial osmótico, no conteúdo de solutos inorgânicos e orgânicos, nas trocas gasosas (fotossíntese, transpiração e condutância estomática) e na produção de plantas adultas de cajueiro anão precoce (Anacardium occidentale L). O experimento foi conduzido no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical, em Pacajus, Ceará, durante os meses de agosto a dezembro de 2006. As plantas foram submetidas a níveis crescentes de salinidade, utilizando-se água de irrigação com condutividade elétrica (CEa) de 0,5 (controle); 4,0, 8,0 e 12 dS m-1. Os dados foram coletados mensalmente e submetidos à análise estatística. Apesar da condutividade elétrica do extrato de saturação (CEes) ter aumentado com a salinidade, não foram observadas diferenças significativas no potencial osmótico foliar, nas trocas gasosas ou nos teores dos solutos orgânicos e inorgânicos entre os tratamentos. Com exceção do potencial osmótico foliar e das trocas gasosas, os demais parâmetros estudados variaram ao longo do experimento em função do estádio fenológico das plantas, com os maiores valores encontrados na época de frutificação. Portanto, o estresse salino não foi suficiente para causar mudanças significativas no desenvolvimento e na produtividade das plantas estudadas.

Abstract Salinity is an abiotic stress that alters the plant development, limiting plant production. At the present experiment, it was evaluated the effect of salt stress on osmotic potential, content of organic and inorganic solutes, gas exchanges (photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance) and production of precocious dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.). For this, the experiment was carried out at Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical experimental station, in Pacajús, Ceará, Brazil, during the months of August to December. The plants were subjected to increasing levels of salinity using irrigation water with electrical conductivity (ECw) of 0.5 (control), 4.0, 8.0 and 12.0 dS m-1. The data were collected monthly and subjected to statistic analyses. Although the electrical conductivity of soil saturation extract (ECse) increased with salinity, there were no significant differences between treatments for osmotic potential, gas exchange and levels of organic and inorganic solutes. With the exception of leaf osmotic potential and gas exchange, all the others parameters studied varied along the experiment in function of the phenophisiological stage of the plant, presenting greater values in the fructification period. So, the salinity stress was not enough to cause significant changes in growth and productivity of the plants.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of H2O2 on germination and acclimation of maize plants subject to salt stress. Three experiments using BRS3003 seeds, a triple hybrid of maize, were carried out in a growth room and in greenhouse. In the first experiment, H2O2 accelerated the germination percentage of seeds at 100 mM, but not at 500 mM. In the second experiment, the pretreatment of seeds was observed to induce a pronounced increase in ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity after 30 h of soaking in H2O2. It was also observed that guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity was smaller in the seeds soaked in H2O2 for 12, 24, 30, 36 and 42 h, in relation to those soaked in distilled water. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was not affected by the pretreatment of seeds, except for the 24 h treatment. Only one CAT isoform was detected. In the third experiment, seeds were pretreated with 36 h soaking in 100 mM H2O2 solution or in distilled water and later cultivated in Hoagland's nutrient solution or nutrient solution with 80 mM NaCl. The results showed the pretreatment of seeds with H2O2 induced acclimation of the plants to salinity. It decreased the deleterious effects of salt stress on the growth of maize. In addition, the differences in antioxidative enzyme activities may explain the increased tolerance to salt stress of plants originated from H2O2 pretreated seeds.

A utilização de águas de moderada e alta salinidade na agricultura é uma realidade cada vez mais próxima, tendo em vista a limitada disponibilidade de águas de baixa salinidade para expansão da agricultura irrigada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos da aplicação de água salina sobre o crescimento e a extração de nutrientes pela cultura nos diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento de plantas de feijão-de-corda. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de campo, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos empregados foram: T1 - água do poço (CEa de 0,8dS m-1) durante todo o ciclo; T2 - água salina (CEa de 5,0dS m-1) durante todo o ciclo; T3, T4 e T5 - água salina de zero a 22 dias após a semeadura (DAS), de 23 a 42DAS e de 43 a 62DAS, respectivamente. As plantas dos tratamentos T3, T4 e T5 foram irrigadas com água do poço nas demais fases do ciclo. Aos oito, 23, 43 e 63DAS, grupos de, no mínimo, quatro plantas foram coletadas para a determinação da produção de matéria seca e dos teores de Na, Cl, K, Ca, N, P, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn. Foram avaliados os totais extraídos e a distribuição dos nutrientes na planta. A aplicação de água salina durante todo o ciclo (T2) e na germinação e fase inicial de crescimento (T3) inibiu e retardou, respectivamente, o crescimento da cultura. As plantas de feijão-de-corda extraíram os minerais analisados na seguinte ordem decrescente: N > K > Cl > Ca > Na > P > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu, e a aplicação contínua de água salina (T2) reduziu a extração da maioria dos nutrientes, com exceção do Na. Os minerais Na, Cl, K, Ca, Fe e Mn permaneceram preferencialmente nas partes vegetativas, enquanto N e P foram translocados, em maiores proporções, aos frutos.

Due to the limited availability of low salinity waters, the use of water of moderate to high salinity in agriculture is a close reality in the expansion of irrigated farms. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of irrigation with saline water, applied at different development stages of cowpea plants, on growth and nutrient uptake. The experiment was set up in the field during the dry season. A completely randomized block design, with five treatments and five replications was adopted. The treatments studied were: T1 - groundwater with electrical conductivity (ECw) of 0.8dS m-1 during the whole crop cycle; T2 - saline water (ECw = 5.0dS m-1) during the whole crop cycle; T3, T4 and T5 - saline water from 0 to the 22nd day after sowing (DAS), from the 23rd to the 42nd DAS and from the 43rd to 62nd DAS, respectively. The plants subjected to T3, T4 and T5 were irrigated with groundwater in the other stages of the crop cycle. At 8, 23, 43 and 63DAS plants were collected for evaluation of plant growth, Na, Cl, K, Ca, N, P, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn contents and distribution in plant parts. The application of saline water during the whole crop cycle (T2) and during the germination and initial plant development (T3) caused, respectively, inhibition and retardation of plant growth. Cowpea plants removed the minerals in the following decreasing sequence: N > K > Cl > Ca > Na > P > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu, but the continuous use of saline water (T2) reduced the total uptake of all nutrients, except for Na. The minerals Na, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Mn were distributed preferentially in the vegetative parts of the plant, while most of the N and P were translocated to the pods.

Dois genótipos de sorgo forrageiro foram estudados: CSF18 (sensível) e CSF20 (tolerante). A redução no crescimento da parte aérea devida ao estresse salino foi maior no genótipo sensível. Quando ambos foram submetidos ao estresse salino (NaCl a 75 mM), não se observou nenhuma mudança significativa na peroxidação dos lipídios. Contudo, o estresse salino induziu aumentos nas atividades da dismutase do superóxido e da catalase de ambos os genótipos. Tais aumentos foram maiores no genótipo tolerante. As atividades das peroxidases foram diferencialmente afetadas pelo estresse salino. Enquanto no genótipo sensível houve descréscimos, no genótipo tolerante observaram-se aumentos nas atividades dessas enzimas em resposta a salinidade. Além disso, a razão de atividade entre a dismutase do superóxido e as demais enzimas foi maior no genótipo sensível. Os resultados sustentam a hipótese de que a maior eficiência do sistema enzimático antioxidante do genótipo CSF20 poderia ser considerada como um dos fatores responsáveis por sua tolerância ao estresse salino. Portanto, a razão entre as atividades da dismutase do superóxido e a das enzimas eliminadoras do H2O2 poderia ser usada como hipótese de trabalho de um marcador bioquímico de tolerância ao estresse salino em sorgo.

Two forage sorghum genotypes were studied: CSF18 (salt-sensitive) and CSF20 (salt-tolerant). Shoot growth reduction as a result of salt stress was stronger in the salt sensitive genotype compared to the salt tolerant one. When the two genotypes were subjected to salt stress (75 mM NaCl) no significant change in lipid peroxidation was observed. However, salt stress induced increases in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in both genotypes. These salt-induced increases were higher in the salt-tolerant genotype. Peroxidase activity was differentially affected by salt stress in the two genotypes. The activities of these peroxidases were decreased by salt stress in the salt-sensitive genotype and increased in the salt-tolerant genotype. In addition, the activity ratio between the superoxide dismutase and the H2O2-scavenging enzymes was higher in the salt-sensitive genotype. The results obtained support the hypothesis that the higher efficiency of the antioxidant-enzymatic system of the CSF20 genotype could be considered as one of the factors responsible for its tolerance to salt stress. Therefore, it is suggested that the ratio between superoxide dismutase and H2O2-scavenging enzyme activities could be used as a working hypothesis for a biochemical marker for salt tolerance in sorghum.

Sementes de oito genótipos de milho (BR3123, BR5004, BR5011, BR5026, BR5033, CMS50, D766 e ICI8447) foram semeadas em vermiculita e, após a germinação, transplantadas para vasos contendo solução nutritiva ou solução nutritiva com 100 mmol.L-1 de NaCl, em casa de vegetação. Durante o período experimental avaliaram-se, em plantas de todos os genótipos, sob condições de controle e estresse salino, os seguintes parâmetros: crescimento (matéria seca, relação de matéria seca parte aérea/raiz, área foliar, taxa de crescimento relativo e taxa de assimilação líquida), temperatura foliar, condutância estomática, transpiração, potencial hídrico antemanhã e teores de sódio, potássio, aminoácidos solúveis e carboidratos solúveis. O estresse salino reduziu o crescimento das plantas de todos os genótipos, sendo o BR5033 e o BR5011 caracterizados como tolerante e sensível ao estresse salino respectivamente. A resposta estomática do genótipo tolerante não foi influenciada pela salinidade. Entre os parâmetros estudados, a relação de matéria seca parte aérea/raiz e os teores de sódio e de solutos orgânicos nas folhas não mostraram relação com a tolerância à salinidade, isto é, não foram considerados bons marcadores morfo-fisiológicos para a tolerância à salinidade em milho. Em contraste, os teores de sódio e de solutos orgânicos nas raízes mostraram desempenhar um importante papel na aclimatação dos genótipos estudados ao estresse salino, sugerindo que eles poderiam ser usados como marcadores fisiológicos durante a seleção para tolerância à salinidade.

Seeds from eight different maize genotypes (BR3123, BR5004, BR5011, BR5026, BR5033, CMS50, D766 and ICI8447) were sown in vermiculite, and after germination they were transplanted into nutrient solution or nutrient solution containing 100 mmol.L-1 of NaCl and placed in a greenhouse. During the experimental period plant growth (dry matter, shoot to root dry mass ratio, leaf area, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate), leaf temperature, stomatal conductance, transpiration, predawn water potential, sodium, potassium, soluble amino acids and soluble carbohydrate contents were determined in both control and salt stressed plants of all genotypes studied. Salt stress reduced plant growth of all genotypes but the genotypes BR5033 and BR5011 were characterized as the most salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive, respectively. Stomatal response of the salt-tolerant genotype was not affected by salinity. Among the studied parameters, shoot to root dry mass ratio, leaf sodium content and leaf soluble organic solute content showed no relation with salt tolerance, i.e., they could not be considered as good morpho-physiological markers for maize salt tolerance. In contrast, sodium and soluble organic solutes accumulation in the roots as a result of salt stress appeared to play an important role in the acclimation to salt stress of the maize genotypes studied, suggesting that they could be used as physiological markers during the screening for salt tolerance.

Plantas de feijão-de-corda (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Pitiúba foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva e conservadas em casa de vegetação até o estádio de pré-floração, e foram submetidas a quatro tratamentos, a saber: solução nutritiva; solução nutritiva contendo NaCl a 75 mmol.L-1; solução nutritiva contendo NaCl a 75 mmol.L-1 e CaCl2 a 5 e a 10 mmol.L-1. O estresse salino inibiu fortemente o crescimento, provocou distúrbios no balanço hídrico das plantas e elevou o teor total de solutos inorgânicos nas diferentes partes das plantas, em vista, principalmente, do acúmulo de Na+ e Cl-. Além disso, aumentou o teor de carboidratos solúveis nas folhas e raízes, reduziu o teor de nitrogênio amino-solúvel, tanto nas extremidades das raízes como nas folhas trifolioladas mais jovens, e diminuiu os níveis de prolina nas extremidades das raízes. Embora a adição de CaCl2 ao ambiente radicular de plantas estressadas tenha provocado redução no teor de Na+, especialmente nas raízes, não minorou os efeitos do estresse nas relações hídricas e no crescimento das plantas. Os resultados obtidos, portanto, não dão suporte à hipótese de que o cálcio suplementar minoraria os efeitos inibitórios do estresse induzido por NaCl.

Pitiuba cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) plants were grown in nutrient solution and kept in a greenhouse up to pre-flowering stage. They were subjected to four different treatments: nutrient solution; nutrient solution containing 75 mmol.L-1 NaCl; nutrient solution containing 75 mmol.L-1 NaCl and 5 mmol.L-1 CaCl2; and nutrient solution containing 75 mmol.L-1 NaCl and 10 mmol.L-1 CaCl2. Salt stress strongly inhibited plant growth, caused a disturbance in plant-water balance, and increased the total content of inorganic solutes in the different plant parts, due mainly to accumulation of Na+ and Cl-. It also increased leaf and root soluble carbohydrates, reduced soluble amino nitrogen both in root tips and in the youngest trifoliate leaves, and reduced proline levels in root tips. Although the addition of CaCl2 to the root environment of salt stressed plants caused a reduction in Na+ content, specially in roots, it did not ameliorate the salt stress effects on plant-water relations and growth. Therefore, the results obtained do not support the hypothesis that supplemental calcium would ameliorate the inhibitory effects of NaCl-stress.

Este trabalho descreve a purificação parcial e caracterização das ribonucleases (RNase; EC 3.1.27.1) presentes em raízes, caule e folhas de plântulas de feijão-de-corda Pitiuba [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Precipitação dos extratos brutos dos diferentes tecidos com sulfato de amônio, seguida de cromatografia de troca iônica (CM-Celulose), resultaram em purificação de cerca de 48 vezes para a enzima de raízes, 21 para a de caule e 42 para a de folha. A atividade desoxirribonucleásica nas frações semi-purificadas foi praticamente nula. As massas moleculares das RNases não diferiram significativamente, sendo a média de suas massas 16,3 kDa. A RNase de folha mostrou-se estável até 50ºC enquanto que as outras foram inativadas nesta temperatura. A inativação máxima das RNases de raízes e de caule ocorreu a 70ºC, mas a da RNase foliar ocorreu a 80ºC. A adição de KCl ao meio de ensaio causou uma mudança no pH ótimo de 6,0 para a faixa de 5,2-5,6 para as enzimas extraídas dos diferentes tecidos. As atividades RNásicas foram fortemente inibidas por Hg2+, Zn2+ e Cu2+, inibidas parcialmente por Co2+ e Fe2+ e não foram afetadas por EDTA, Ca2+ ou Mg2+. Diferentemente do observado para a RNase foliar, as enzimas de raízes e de caule foram inativadas por uréia e 2-mercaptoetanol (2-ME). Embora exista grande semelhança entre as enzimas estudadas, a RNase foliar parece ser mais estável ao calor e à desnaturação química do que as RNases de raiz e de caule. Os resultados sugerem que as enzimas extraídas dos diferentes tecidos de plântulas de feijão-de-corda Pitiúba são ribonucleases e não nucleases.

Partial purification and characterization of ribonucleases (RNase; EC 3.1.27.1) present in roots, stem and leaves of 5 day-old Pitiúba cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] seedlings are described. Crude extracts from the different tissues were precipitated with ammonium sulfate followed by ionic exchange chromatography (CM-Cellulose) resulting in purification factors of 48-fold for roots, 21 for stem and 42 for leaves. No deoxyribonuclease activity was practically observed. The molecular masses of the RNases did not significantly differ, averaging 16.3 kDa. Leaf RNase was stable up to 50ºC while the others were inactivated at this temperature. The maximal inactivation for both stem and roots RNases was reached at 70ºC while for leaf it occurred at 80ºC. The addition of KCl to the assay medium caused a shift of optimal pH from 6.0 toward the range of 5.2 - 5.6 for the enzymes extracted from the different tissues. RNase activities were strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+, partially inhibited by Co2+ and Fe2+ and were not affected by EDTA, Ca2+ or Mg2+. In contrast to the leaf RNase, roots and stem enzymes were inactivated by urea and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). Although there is a great similarity among the enzymes studied, leaf RNase appears to be more stable to heat and to chemical denaturation than root and stem RNases. The results also suggest that the enzymes extracted from different tissues of Pitiúba cowpea seedlings are ribonucleases and not nucleases.

Três isoformas da enzima beta-galactosidase foram isoladas e purificadas parcialmente a partir de cotilédones de sementes quiescentes dos cultivares Vita 3 e Vita 5 de feijão-de-corda [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], os quais diferem em tolerância aos estresses hídrico e salino. O processo de purificação consistiu de fracionamento com sulfato de amônio, precipitação ácida, seguida pela associação de cromatografia de troca iônica em coluna de DEAE-Sephadex com cromatografia de afinidade em coluna de Lactosyl-Sepharose. As três isoformas isoladas dos dois cultivares mostraram os mesmos padrões cromatográficos, mesma temperatura ótima de ensaio para atividade enzimática (60ºC), idêntica estabilidade térmica até 50ºC e apresentaram ótimos de pH semelhantes (3-4). Entretanto, diferiram umas das outras em suas sensibilidades a íons metálicos e a certos agentes químicos presentes no meio de reação. Os resultados mostraram que as diferenças observadas nas beta-galactosidases de cotilédones de sementes quiescentes foram insuficientes para correlacioná-las com a tolerância ao estresse.

Three isoforms of beta-galactosidases were isolated and partially purified from the cotyledons of quiescent seeds of Vita 3 and Vita 5 cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivars differing in water and salt stress tolerance. The purification procedure consisted of ammonium sulfate fractionation, acid precipitation, ion exchange chromatography through DEAE-sephadex and affinity chromatography through Lactosyl-sepharose columns. The three isoforms isolated from the two cultivars showed the same chromatographic patterns, same optimum of temperature for enzyme activity assay (60ºC), identical thermal stability up to 50°C, and similar pH optima (3-4). However, they differed from each other in sensitivity towards metal ions and certain chemical agents presents in the assay medium. The results have shown that the observed differences in beta-galactosidases from the cotyledons of quiescent seeds were not sufficient to relate them to stress tolerance.