Exogenous Proline and Glycinebetaine Mitigate the Detrimental Effect of Salt Stress on Rice Plants

Abstract

Exogenous application of proline and glycinebetaine (hereafter betaine) is often regarded as a shotgun approach for the protection and survival of plants under abiotic stresses including salinity. Here, we investigated effects of proline and betaine on hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), malondialdehyde (MDA) and transpiration rate in salt-stressed rice plants. Generally, salt stress increased H 2 O 2 and lipid peroxidation as indicated by MDA content and decreased transpiration rate in rice plants. The exogenous application of proline and betaine decrease H 2 O 2 and MDA contents and increase transpiration rate in salt-stressed rice plants. It is suggested that exogenous proline and betaine mitigate the detrimental effects of salt stress by reducing H 2 O 2 and lipid peroxidation levels and by increasing transpiration rate in rice plants.