Ameliorative Impact of an Extract of the HalophyteArthrocnemum macrostachyumon Growth and Biochemical Parameters of Soybean Under Salinity Stress

A pot experiment was carried out to study the ameliorative role of foliar application of an extract of the halophyteArthrocnemum macrostachyum(A. macrostachyum)on soybean (Glycin maxL.) plants grown under salinity stress (0, 75, and 150 mM NaCl). Growth traits, content of photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, ascorbic acid and total phenol, oxidative damage, and proteins pattern were determined. Growth parameters of soybean plants grown under both saline regimes (75 and 150 mM NaCl) were reduced except for the response to the foliar application ofA. macrostachyumextract in either stressed or non-stressed plants. Foliar application ofA. macrostachyumextract reinforced the photosynthetic pigment, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins content. Besides, it also minimized the negative impacts of salinity on soybean plants by decreasing the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The results herein showed that the plant water extract and their interactions in the two NaCl levels increased the proline, total free amino acids, total phenols, and ascorbic acid content. Protein patterns in soybean leaves indicated protein expression suppression in soybean plants irrigated with 150 mM NaCl. The magnitude of suppression caused by the saline level was enhanced by usingA. macrostachyumextract. The findings of this study indicate that the use of an extract of the halophyteA. macrostachyumcan be considered as an unconventional and novel tool in the mitigation of salinity stress.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that foliar application of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum extract can improve the growth of soybean plants under salinity stress, enhancing photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins content while reducing oxidative damage. Additionally, the extract increased the levels of proline, total free amino acids, total phenols, and ascorbic acid. Protein expression was suppressed in soybean plants irrigated with 150 mM NaCl, and this suppression was exacerbated by using A. macrostachyum extract.