Salt stress tolerance and antioxidative mechanisms in wheat plants ( Triticum durum L . ) by seaweed extracts application

In this study we report how do use the Seaweed extract (SWE) obtained from Moroccan macroalgae species Ulva rigida affect salt stress tolerance in wheat plants. Some physiological and biochemical parameter such as, chlorophyll content, carotenoides, total phenolic content and antioxidant enzyme activity of wheat plants (Triticum durum L.) were studied under salt condition at various levels of NaCl (0, 2 and 4 g/l of NaCl). Our result showed that salt stress reduced plant growth and all parameters were affected. The application of SWE enhance vegetative growth in plant with all concentration applied under salt stress condition. Improved leaf pigment (chlorophyll and carotenoid) was observed with all SWE treatment in salt stressed plant compared to control. Also, total phenolic content was increased in wheat plants by SWE treatment under different growth condition and the optimum level was attained with 25% concentration. There was a significant enhancement in Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX ) activities. These enzymatic activities increased considerably when plants were sprayed with 25% of Ulva rigida extract under salt stress. Our study showed an enhancement of vegetative growth and improvement of total phenolic, carotenoids content and antioxidant enzymatic activity by Ulva rigida extract in stressed wheat plant. It suggest that Seaweed extract SWE of Ulva rigida can improve salt stress tolerance and contributes to protection of wheat plant against oxidative deterioration