Comparative analysis of defence response of soybean by seed soaking in gibberellic acid to salinity

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) presoaking of soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds on the biomass yield, regulation of reactive oxygen species and some antioxidant enzyme activities in radicle, hypocotyl and cotyledons under salinity. Within this scope, the seeds were subjected to priming with 150 ppm GA3 for 6 h at room temperature. Then, 150 mM NaCl was added in a group and the control was not primed with GA3. The results clearly revealed that salt stress caused a slight induction of biomass yield of radicle and hypocotyl, photosynthetic pigments in cotyledon, reactive oxygen species content in all organs. Moreover, GA3 pretreatment alleviated salt-induced oxidative damage by maintaining superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in soybean plants. This study firstly elucidates the effects of GA3 priming on the comparative response mechanisms to salinity with different organs of soybean plants.