ANTIOXIDANT RESPONSE OF SALT-TREATED STRAWBERRY PLANTS TO HEAT STRESS

The aims of this work were, firstly to determine the ability to enhance antioxitadive molecules in salt-treated strawberry plants and secondly, to observe and better understand the antioxidant response and subsequent sensitivity or resistance to heat stress.
Strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa ‘Camarosa’) were supplied with 1/3 Hoagland nutrient solution (pH~6.0) containing 0, 10 (mild), 20 (moderate), and 40 (high) mM NaCl (salt-treated) for 30 days.
Then, the plants were subjected for two days to high temperature (heat stress). Salinity enhanced antioxidative molecules both in leaves and roots.
However, previous exposure under mild salinity treatment displayed a better response of the antioxidative system of the plants if heat stress conditions followed.
On the contrary, plants under high salinity treatment showed negative interaction with heat-stress, leading to severe damage in the above-ground parts of the plants.
These results suggest that a mild salinity ‘hardening’ technique may be an important tool to facilitate activation of a plant defence mechanism to tolerate subsequent heat-stress conditions.

Workshop on Berry Production in Changing Climate Conditions and Cultivation Systems. COST-Action 863: Euroberry Research: from Genomics to Sustainable Production, Quality and Health

D. Neocleous, M. Vasilakakis

Fragaria x ananassa, NaCl, hardening, ascorbic acid, phenolics, carotenoids, antioxidant capacity, phenylalanine ammonialyase

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.838.36