Full Length Research Article ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN SALT STRESS TOLERANT OF DATE PALM OFFSHOOTS (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) FEMALE AND MALE CULTIVARS

Salinity is one of the most abiotic stress destructive factors which limit growth and production of date palm offshoots considerably. In order to investigate the effects of antioxidant compounds on growth parameters as indicters to salt tolerance at the date palm offshoots cultivars of Kabkab (female) and Ghannami ahmer (male). Experiment was conducted with seven treatments and four replications for each treatment to each cultivar. Offshoots received (Control treatments once without salt water and another with salt water, spraying citric acid at 800 ppm, spraying ascorbic acid at 600 ppm, soil injection by Acetyl salicylic acid at 2000 ppm (aspirin), soil injection by acetyl salicylic acid at 2000 ppm + spraying citric acid at 800 ppm and soil injection by Acetyl salicylic acid at 2000 ppm + spraying ascorbic acid at 600 ppm). The results showed that antioxidant application increased significantly all growth indicators in both cultivars, and the maximum values were recorded in the combined application of acetyl salicylic acid as injection in soil besides spraying of ascorbic acid of kabkab cultivar. Also, antioxidant applications significantly improved RWC as well as carbohydrates content, soluble protein and proline in leaves compared with control treatments in both cultivars. All antioxidant treatments succeeded in decreasing leaf Na+ and Clconcentrations and increasing leaf K+ concentration and K+/Na+ ratio. The results clear that female cultivar more tolerant to salt stress than male cultivar in offshoot stage.