Respostas fisiológicas e bioquímicas de plantas de sorgo forrageiro submetidas ao estresse salino

Abstract

The plants are frequently exposed to environmental stresses, which cause imbalances in physiological and biochemical metabolism. This work aimed to study the physiological and biochemical changes of plant forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genotype CSF18, depending on the time of salt stress. The seeds were sown in vermiculite moistened with distilled water, in a greenhouse conditions, and after seven days, the seedlings were transferred to trays with Hoagland solution diluted 1:2. After seven days, treatment was established stress saline (75 mM NaCl), one group of plants kept in nutrient solution in the absence of salt (control). Samples were collected at 0, 5, 10 and 15 days after the initiation of stress. We evaluated the growth, gas exchange, contents and chlorophyll fluorescence, the concentration of organic solutes (proline, N-amino solutes, soluble carbohydrates, soluble proteins and polyamines free) and inorganic (Na+, Cl- and K+), as well as the activity of ribonuclease (RNase). We also determined the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaicol peroxidase (GPX), as well as the levels of H2O2, ascorbate and glutathione in leaves and roots. Salinity reduced plant growth, being observed reductions in leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots. This was related to a reduction in net photosynthesis rate, even with the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance is not affected. The salinity increased contents of Na+ and Cl- in plant tissues, but the K+ decreased. The levels of organic solutes in leaves and roots increased, particularly at five and ten days of stress. The polyamines putrescine and spermidine were found at very low levels in both leaves and roots, while spermine was not detected in any analyzed portion of the plant. Although putrescine increased in salt stress, some must have contributed to the osmotic adjustment, however, their participation in oxidative protection was suggested. The salinity increased the activity of SOD, APX and GPX and the redox state of ascorbate, especially in the leaves, and this is related to the maintenance of H2O2 levels and increased protection against oxidative damage. The CAT showed the main enzyme remover H2O2 in the leaves while the roots that role was played by GPX. The RNase activity in leaves, stems and roots of sorghum increased in stress conditions, but their role in protection against the deleterious effects of salinity is not yet fully understood. In general, the data show that the antioxidative system (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) can play a key role in the acclimation of sorghum plants to salt stress, and that the reduction of plant growth was probably due to inhibition of biochemical phase of photosynthesis, caused by accumulation of toxic ions, Na+ and Cl-, reducing the relation K+/Na+ at levels harmful to the metabolism