PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY DURING IN VITRO GROWTH OF SALT STRESSED OCIMUM TENUIFLORUM. L

Abstract

The behavior of peroxidase activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum under NaCl stress during its in vitro growth was evaluated. The in vitro growth of O.tenuiflorum was achieved on MS basal medium supplemented with different PGRs and their different combinations at 24C° with 5.7 pH, 16 hrs photoperiod and 30g/l sucrose. Leaf explants gave the best callus growth i.e 90%, with a combination of NAA and Kinetin, (5.0+0.5mg\L), to which different salt concentrations of NaCl (0.1, 0.3, 0.4mg\l) were applied. Salinity significantly influenced the callus morphology of Ocimum tenuiflorum as greenish callus completely turned into black on the application of high salt concentrations. High concentration of salt strongly inhibited the plant growth and increased the peroxidase activity by activating the antioxidant enzyme system. After salt application peroxidase activity incearsed from, 0.992 to 1.913 n units / µg protein for the leaf callus during its 8th subculture. It was concluded during the present study that peroxidase activity levels can work as biochemical marker of tolerance of the plants towards biotic and abiotic stresses.