The present study was conducted to evaluate salt tolerance in seven different pure-line cultivars of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) viz. K-21, Pusa Ruby, Pusa Gorav, Hera research, Selection N5, PKM-1 and S-22 based on several physiological and biochemical traits. Seedlings were transplanted to the pots, being exposed to different salinity levels in the form of NaCl (0, 50, 100, or 150 mM) at a 35-day stage of growth for six days. The plants exposed to salt stress presented a significant decline in growth, photosynthetic parameters, maximum quantum yield of PSII and leaf water relations, which were drastically reduced in variety S-22, while variety K-21 was the least affected. Electrolyte leakage was superior in proportion to an increase in salinity levels. Proline content and activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were found maximum in variety K-21. Almost all the growth and physiological and biochemical traits had a significant genotypic variation, indicating that these parameters could be used as novel screening criteria for selecting the tolerant and sensitive cultivars exposed to salt stress.

Pots holding 7 day-old seedlings of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were subjected to differential temperature stress by exposing plants to 30 or 40ºC for 24 h. Seedlings were sprayed with double distilled water (DDW) or 10-5M salicylic acid (SA) at the 8-day stage and were sampled at 30 DAS. The plants exposed to temperature stress exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) decline in growth, and in levels of chlorophyll, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities and photosynthetic parameters. A follow-up treatment with SA protected against the stress generated by temperature and significantly improved the above parameters. Antioxidative enzymes and levels of proline significantly increased in response to SA as well as to temperature stress.