Effect of NaCl stress on growth and antioxidant systems of Pogostemon cablin

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of salt stress on the growth and resistant-oxidation enzyme activities of Pogostemon cablin. METHOD Cutting-rooted seedlings were cultivated in the plastic flowerpot irrigated with various concentrations of NaCl (Hoagland solution) for different duration, and the height, fresh/dry weight, root vitality, SOD,POD and CAT activity, membrane permeability and MDA contents were determined. RESULT The growth and development of P. cablin was restrained after salt stress. The differences of salt stress of lower concentration and for a short time (less than 20 mmol x L(-1) and the 9th day) were not obvious. The fresh/ dry weight, growth rate and increasing rate of dry matter were obviously decreased with the increasing of NaCl concentration and prolonging of the time, but membrane permeability and contents of MDA were increased all along, and lipid peroxidation enhanced, while the root vitality and activities of SOD, POD and CAT were firstly increasing at lower concentration and then decreasing at higher concentration. CONCLUSION The growth of P. cablin depends on NaCl concentration and the treated duration.