Regulation of ROS through proficient modulations of antioxidative defense system maintains the structural and functional integrity of photosynthetic apparatus and confers drought tolerance in the facultative halophyte Salvadora persica L.

The facultative halophyte Salvadora persica L. grow in arid, semiarid and saline areas. In present study, drought induced alterations in growth, ion homeostasis, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, ROS regulation and antioxidative defense components were analyzed in S. persica with an aim to elucidate the drought tolerance mechanisms. In response to drought, significant reductions in growth, photosynthesis, and photosynthetic pigments were observed in S. persica. However, leaf relative water content (RWC %) did not change significantly. In S. persica seedlings, the growth, photosynthetic pigment contents and photosynthesis were resumed to control level within 7 d, when the drought treated plants were re-irrigated. However, quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), rate of electron transport (ETR), maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), and photochemical quenching (qP) remained unaffected under water deficit stress. The results suggest that both non-stomatal as well as stomatal limitations can account for photosynthetic reduction. The ionomics studies revealed no significant alterations in levels of Na+, K+, Ca2+, B, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mo, and Zn2+ in leaf tissue during drought. However, there was increase in levels of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in root tissue in response to drought. The activity of different enzymatic antioxidants like SOD, APX, and GR remained unaffected during drought, whereas POX activity increased and CAT activity declined under drought stress in comparison to control. This result proposes that vital ROS scavenging enzymes like SOD, APX and GR are at threshold levels to maintain the appropriate concentration of ROS. In S. persica, the ratio of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG (which are the indicators of redox potential of cell) remained steady or increased under drought which indicates that cellular redox level is maintained in this halophyte. Although ROS levels (H2O2 and O2•-) increased significantly under drought stress, electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation level remained unchanged in response to water deficit condition which indicates that minimal increase in ROS level under drought stress act in signaling for activation of ROS scavenging enzymes. Our results propose that decline in growth and photosynthesis is a vital energy conservation strategy of S. persica under drought condition. The rapid recovery of growth, photosynthesis and water relations in S. persica following drought seems to be a critical mechanism permitting this plant to withstand and survive under drought environment. In addition, our results implicate that efficient regulations of antioxidative enzymes in leaf tissue contribute in regulating the ROS level and cellular redox status, thereby protecting the plant from drought induced oxidative damage in S. persica. Consequently ion homeostasis, plant water status, and integrity of photosynthetic apparatus is maintained in S. persica subjected to drought. The results of present study propose that S. persica is a drought tolerant halophyte and it can be a potential candidate for restoration of degraded saline lands of coastal ecosystem.