Water deficit stress is one of the main problems determining the yield of many crop plants. The study of the effects of salinity on plant growth and development and the search for biochemical stress markers are of great importance in the selection of resistant species. Accumulation and antioxidant activities in response to salinity at different sunflower varieties constitute markers for genetic selection and improvement of plants in the face of tolerance to salinity. Electrophoretic analysis of zymograms of different sunflower varieties grown in a saline environment for 40 days revealed zymograms of peroxidases and esterases specific to varieties tolerant to the saline environment.Peroxidases activity extracted from leaves is augmented in relation to their involvement in the physiological process related to salinity tolerance. In susceptible varieties, peroxidases activity is decreased compared to normal conditions. Variability of activity and polymorphism of isozyme peroxidases and esterases in response to salinity at different sunflower varieties constitute markers for genetic selection and plant improvement in the face of salinity tolerance.
Key words: Isozymes, peroxydases, esterases, leaves, salinity, sunflower.
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