Amelioration of NaCl stress in Pisum sativum Linn.

Activity of endogenous auxins and growth inhibitors, gibberellins and cytokinins was observed in the extracts of seedlings of Pisum sativum under NaCl stress. After 6 days of germination, when Pisum sativum seedlings were subjected to low concentration of NaCl (50 mM) or boron (10 ppm) increased the endogenous growth regulating substances. Higher concentration of NaCl (150 mM) decreased endogenous level of growth regulators, length of the root and shoot, and fresh and dry weights of seedlings, whereas boron increased the parameters except endogenous growth regulators. Mitotic index and some abnormalities were observed in the treated plants. SDS-PAGE banding pattern of Pisum sativum seedlings extracted in tris-glycine and tris-HCl showed that lower concentration of NaCl increased the number of protein bands, while the higher concentration decreased these protein bands. Combination of boron and NaCl (150 mM) caused an increase in total number of protein bands compared with the total number of bands recorded by using NaCl (150 mM) alone.