Pretreatment Effect of Salicylic Acid on Protein and Hydrolytic Enzymes in Salt Stressed Mung Bean Seedlings

Salinity is a known abiotic stress that exhibit changes in biochemical and metabolic activities thus responsible for the reduction in crop yield. Salicylic Acid (SA) is a growth regulator that plays an important role in number of abiotic stresses including salt stress. We investigate the effect of salicylic acid on biochemical response of plant to salt stress. In the present study two mung bean genotypes (NM 19-19 and NM 20-21) were taken as experimental material and imbibed in distilled water (d/w) and solution of SA (50, 100 and 1000 μM) for 13 h prior to salt stress. Then seedlings were treated with 0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl. It was observed that 50 mM NaCl treatment enhanced protein synthesis which was reduced in seedlings treated with 100 mM NaCl as compared to control. However the pretreatment of SA before NaCl treatment enhanced protein synthesis. Salt stress caused reduction in α-amylase activity (AMY) with the promotion in the activity of Acid Phosphatase (AP). The pretreatment of low concentrations of SA (50 and 100 μM) induced AMY activity as compared to salt treated samples with the reduction in AP activity. Highest concentration of SA (1000 μM) showed reduction in the activity of both enzymes. It was further observed that the overall biochemical performance of NM 19-19 was better than NM 20-21.