Antioxidant responses and salt stress tolerance of Aloe vera irrigated by seawater with different salinity

The variations of antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1. 15. 1), peroxidase (POD: EC 1.11.1.7) and catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6), lipid peroxidation and major electrolytes in Aloe vera irrigated for three years with seawater having different salinity were studied. The results indicate that POD activity increased significantly at 10% seawater level, whereas decreased at higher seawater levels. The SOD activity decreased with increasing seawater concentration except for treatment with 100% seawater ( denoted as T100%) under long-term salt stress. Salinity decreased CAT activity, and increased lipid peroxidation and cell membrane injury. In addition, Ca 2+ content was high in Aloe irrigated by seawater of low salinity level, but low in Aloe irrigated by seawater of high salinity level. An opposite trend was observed for the effect of seawater on Na + content of plants. K + and Mg 2+ contents remain relatively stable under various seawater levels, which benefit plant growth.