Effect of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Leaf Feeding on Antioxidant Enzymes Activity, Proline Accumulation and Lipid Peroxidation of Canola (Brassica napus L.) under Salt Stress Condition

In order to study the effects of salt stress and leaf feeding by ascorbic acid on antioxidant enzyme activity, proline accumulation and lipid peroxidation on leaves and roots of Brassica napus L. cvs. Okapi, an experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely random design with three replications. Plants were exposed to salt stresses by NaCl solution (200 mM) and foliar were treated by ascorbic acid solution (25mM). Catalase, Superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity were assayed in shoot and root. Also, malondialdehyde content and proline and chlorophyll in leaves were determined. The results showed that the activity of all antioxidant enzymes (except for SOD in roots) were increased significantly in plants under salt stress, and ascorbic acid application, as a antioxidant decreased their activity in leaves, but in roots it was not effective. Total protein content in leaves and roots decreased significantly under salinity condition. Ascorbic acid treatment increased total protein content under salt stress in both roots and shoots. Measurement of malondialdehyde content in leaves and roots showed that lipid peroxidation was increased by active oxygen species due to salt stress, and ascorbic acid reduced lipid peroxidation only in leaves. Chlorophyll content was also decreased by salinity compared to control. According to the result of present study, ascorbic acid application decreases deleterious effect of salinity.