Estresse salino em Rúcula (Eruca sativa mill) hidropônica: aspectos fisiológicos, bioquímicos e nutricionais.

Abstract

Salinity is one of the abiotic stresses that limit to growth and productivity of agricultural crops worldwide. Scientific studies show that conventional practices aimed at solving the problem of salinization is costly and inefficient and in most cases, not viable under the economic point of view. In this scenario, hydroponics can be an alternative to the use of saline water, besides being a practice conducive to soil conservation and preservation of water sources. To evaluate the performance of two varieties of broadleaf and Cultivated arugula they were subjected to different salinity levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mol.m-3 NaCl to the nutrient solution in hydroponic systems. Salinity negatively affected all physiological parameters of both cultivars, the rate of absolute and relative growth, dry weight and piece fresh root aera and height and, except for the total number of leaves that did not correlate with the salinity factor. The high levels of sodium and chloride in the shoots and roots of plants subjected to salt stress caused a significant reduction in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in both varieties. Salt stress caused a reduction in both total protein and increase the concentration of free proline. The increase of chlorophyll "a" and "b" with increasing levels of salinity reflects the activation of a defense mechanism against salt stress, in addition to increasing the activity of enzymes of antioxidant system, catalase and peroxidase ascorbate and polyphenol.