![]() | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The aim of the present work is to study the effect of salt content on phytochemical composition and molecular characterization of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum naturally growing in Deltaic coast, Egypt The obtained results cleared that, the soil supporting the growth of the studied plant is sandy to loamy sand in texture with a low amount of silt and clay, with mean porosity ranged from 42.4 to 48.9 %, and mean a waterholding capacity of 33.15 – 36.3%. Moreover, the soil of plant sample is generally moist and alkaline (pH = 9.25 – 9.59). In the present result, the effect of salinity habitats supporting the growth A. macrostachyum decreased fresh and dry weight of this plant shoot the reduction was greater at higher salinity concentrations (sample 3) Meanwhile, water percentage showed increase in response to salinity increased. As can see from the results of this study, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents in Arthrocnemum macrostachyum leaves increased as salinity concentrations increased from sample 1 to sample 2, but they declined at site 3 (EC = 8560-5990 μmhos/cm). On the other hand, chlorophyll b content showed corresponding decrease as the concentration of salt was increased from site 1 to site 2, and then site 3. In contrary, carotenoids increased as salinity concentrations increased. And the obtained results revealed that the content of phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins,and tannins contents of A. macrostachyum shoot highly significantly increased with increasing salinity level. Moreover, the content of antioxidant enzymes in A. macrostachyum shoot highly significantly increased with increasing salinity level. The concentration of antioxidant enzymes (ug/g fresh weight /min) in studied halophyte can be ranked as following : POX (peroxidase) > PPO (polyphenol oxidase) > CAT (catalase). |