Oligogalacturonides enhance rice seedling growth cultivated in saline medium

Abstract

Oligogalacturonides compounds are able to enhance defense responses and regulate plant growth and development; however, there is scarce information about the effects of these compounds on plants grown under abiotic conditions, particularly, under salt stress. For this reason, an experiment was performed where different concentrations (0, 10 and 20 mg L^-1) of an oligogalacturonides mixture was applied by INCA LP-7 rice seed treatment during 24 hours and by addition to Hoagland nutritive solution supplemented with NaCl 100 mmol L^-1 after seed germination. The pots containing the germinated seeds were placed in a light room with a 16 hours photoperiod and a temperature of 25±2 ^oC for 13 days. At the end of this period, growth indicators such as srems and root length, dry weight of both organs and some leaf biochemical indicators were evaluated. Salt treatment during 13 days only decreased significantly the length of both seedling organs of this cultivar and the inhibition on root and shoot length was total and partially reverted by the seed treatment with MOGs 20 mg L^-1. This response was corresponded to a significant decrease of leaf proline concentration and an increase of peroxidases enzyme activity.