Exogenous Application of Glycinebetaine Modulates Activities of Antioxidants in Maize Plants Subjected to Salt Stress

The influence of exogenously applied glycinebetaine (0, 50 and 100 mm) as a foliar spray at different growth stages, i.e. vegetative, reproductive or both at the vegetative and reproductive stages on gas exchange characteristics, glycinebetaine (GB) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) was examined in plants of two maize cultivars, Golden and C-20 grown under saline conditions. Salt stress caused a marked decrease in photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll contents and SOD activity in both maize cultivars. However, activities of CAT and POD remained almost unchanged in both maize cultivars under salt stress. Accumulation of GB increased with an increase in exogenous level of GB, i.e. 100 mm GB spray caused a greater accumulation of GB in the leaves of maize plants than did 0 or 50 mm. Although exogenously applied GB enhanced photosynthetic capacity of salt-stressed plants of both cultivars, it enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT and POD, in salt-stressed plants of cv. C-20 only. Overall, the adverse effects of salt stress on maize plants were alleviated by the exogenous application of GB at different growth stages, which up-regulated photosynthetic capacity and the activities of some antioxidant enzymes.