Antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants as defense mechanism of salinity stress in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)—Ife brown and Ife bpc

Abstract

Results showed that minimum proline content (12.07 mg/g) and maximum proline determination (16.05 mg/g) were observed in Ife bpc at 5 and at 15 dS/m under NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments. The LP content significantly increased in Ife brown at 15 dS/m under NaCl treatment and at 10 dS/m (9.49 mg/g) under Na2SO4 salinity. Minimum GSH content (120 µm/g) and maximum glutathione accumulation (138.97 µm/g) were observed in Ife bpc in the stressed cowpea seedlings (5 and 10 dS/m) under NaCl treatment with respect to the control. Also, SOD activities in the leaves of Ife brown increase with increase in salinity stress in both NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments.