Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Miscanthus sacchariflorus to Salt Stress

Miscanthus sacchariflorus is a typical perennial giant grass of East Asia as a biofuel feedstock. However, the mechanism of its salt tolerance is not well understood. In this study, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content, soluble protein content, MDA, proline content, POD, SOD, and CAT of M. sacchariflorus under salt stress were investigated with five NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 180 mmol.l-1. The results showed that the chlorophyll content decreased with increasing NaCl stresses, whereas soluble protein content, MDA, proline content, POD, SOD and CAT increased with increasing NaCl stresses. Low salt stress (30 and 60 mmol.l-1 NaCl) had almost no effect when comparing with the control under early stage (before 14 days) of salt stress treatment. However, treatment with high salt stress (90 and 180 mmol.l-1 NaCl) promoted MDA, proline, and antioxidant enzymes increasing markedly.