COMPARISON OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONDS BETWEEN TWO VARIETIES OF Glycyrrhiza glabra TO MOLYBDENUM AND SALICYLIC ACID

To investigate responses of Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glabra and G. glabra var. glandulifera to molybdenum and salicylic acid, we measured four stress biochemical parameters: anthocyanin, nitric acid, glycyrrhizic acid and peroxidase activity in callus tissues. Callus tissues obtained from seedlings root cultures were treated by 60 mg. l-1 molybdenum and 5 µM salicylic acid alone or together for two weeks. Anthocyanin content enhanced in all treatments in glabra but it decreased in glandulifera. Molybdenum and salicylic acid had enhanced the level of nitric oxide production in both varieties. Peroxidase activity and glycyrrhizic acid were only affected by salicylic acid. An enhancement in glycyrrhizic acid level observed in treatments containing salicylic acid. The effects of salicylic acid on peroxidase activity were particularly interesting as they were completely  opposite between two cases of varieties: enhanced effect for glabra and inhibitory effect for glandulifera. Significant differences in monitored parameters between two varieties and different responses to new conditions may confer to these varieties specific tolerance defence mechanism.