ERWERBS-OBSTBAU, vol.62, no.1, pp.107-115, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) a nitric oxide donor is utilized as an antioxidant under stress conditions in order to mitigate stress damages. To probe into the potential relieving salinity malignant effects, we investigated the protective roles of SNP. An apple plant (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Fuji grafted on MM106 and M9 clonal rootstocks was chosen for the experiment and imposed to salinity stress for 4 months with 35 & x202f;mM NaCl. SNP with different three doses (1, 2 and 4 & x202f;mM) was applied to the roots of the salt-stressed apple plants except control. SNP applications inhibited apple plants growth depression through increasing stomatal conductivity, chlorophyll and protein content and decreasing electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation. Beside that, SNP triggered chlorophyll biosynthesis and maintained better cell membrane stability compared to control. In cv. Fuji/MM106, 1 & x202f;mM SNP application had the highest SPAD value (48.6) even more than control plants (44.8). 4 & x202f;mM SNP showed the highest stomatal conductivity (313 & x202f;mmol & x202f;m(-2)& x202f;s(-1)) and the lowest value was obtained from salt plant (141 & x202f;mmol & x202f;m(-2)& x202f;s(-1)). In cv. Fuji/M9, 4 & x202f;mM SNP elevated the protein content by 73% compared to control. Information from current experiment SNP can be utilized to improve soil management practises under salt stress condition. Moreover, SNP affected apple plants through antioxidant mechanism, but did not have impact on osmotical adjustment.