Physiological and phytochemical changes induced by seed pretreatment with hydrogen peroxide in Artemisia sieberi under salt stress.

Abstract

Seeds of medicinal plant <em>Artemisia sieberi</em> were pretreated with H₂O₂(0, 10, 50, 90, and 140 µM) and grown in saline condition (0 and 150 mM NaCl) for one month. Phytochemical properties such as antioxidant capacity and also salt tolerance in the plans arising from H₂O₂ pretreated seeds under salt stress were examined. Results showed a decrease in H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde concentrations in the shoots of pretreated <em>A. sieberi</em>. Furthermore, seed pretreatment with H₂O₂ (particularly at 50 µM) increased photosynthetic pigments content, antioxidant capacity and dry and fresh weights of shoots in the pretreated plants under both normal and saline conditions. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes increased in all pretreated <em>A. sieberi </em>plants particularly at 50 µM H₂O₂. Data indicated H₂O₂pretreatment can induce salt tolerance in <em>A. sieberi </em>by supporting physiological and phytochemical processes such as photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species scavenging and detoxification, and also membrane stability in this species. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide pretreatment enhanced reducing power and antioxidant activity in <em>A. sieberi </em>suggesting an increase in its medicinal properties.