The effects of drought on growth, protein content, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were studied in leaves and roots of Sesamum indicum L. cvs. Darab 14 and Yekta. Four weeks after sowing, plants were grown under soil moisture corresponding to 100, 75, 50 and 25 % field capacity for next four weeks. Fresh and dry masses, and total protein content in leaves and roots decreased obviously under drought. However, several new proteins appeared and content of some proteins was affected. Measurement of malondialdehyde content in leaves and roots showed that lipid peroxidation was lower in Yekta than in Darab 14. Severe stress increased SOD, POX, CAT and PPO activities in leaves and roots, especially in Yekta. According to the present study Yekta is more resistant to drought than Darab 14.Additional key words: catalase, malondialdehyde, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, Sesamum indicum, superoxide dismutase.

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The effects of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) on growth, water relations, glycinebetaine, free proline, ion contents, stomata number and size of Kochia prostrata (L.) Schard were determined. Shoot and root fresh and dry matter, root and shoot length, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, relative water content, water use efficiency, soluble sugars and glycinebetaine contents were not changed at low NaCl concentrations, but they were significantly decreased at 200 mM NaCl. The K + , Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ contents, water potential, chlorophyll a+b and carotenoides contents, and stomata number and size were reduced already at low concentrations of NaCl. In contrast, the Na + , Cl -and proline contents increased several times with increasing NaCl concentration. Kochia prostrata is a salt tolerant species, the optimal growth of this plant occurred up to 150 mM NaCl. The mechanisms of salt tolerance in the plant may be balance among ion accumulation and production of glycinebetaine, proline, soluble sugars for maintenance of pressure potential.Additional key words: glycinebetaine, halophyte, proline, stomata number and size, salt stress, salt tolerance, water use efficiency.

The effects of different concentrations of NaCl on the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the shoots and roots of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr cv. Pershing) inoculated or not with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, were studied. Furthermore, the effect of salt acclimated mycorrhizal fungi on the antioxidative enzymes in soybean plants grown under salt stress (100 mM NaCl) was investigated. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were increased in the shoots of both mycorrhizal (M) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants grown under NaCl salinity. Salinity increased SOD activity in the roots of M and NM plants, but had no effect on CAT and polyphenol oxidase activities in the roots. M plants had greater SOD, POD and ascorbate peroxidase activity under salinity. Under salt stress, soybean plants inoculated with salt pre-treated mycorrhizal fungi showed increased SOD and POD activity in shoots, relative to those inoculated with the non pretreated fungi.

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Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants were sprayed with salicylic acid (SA) and treated with ultraviolet radiation UV-A (320-390 nm), UV-B (312 nm), and UV-C (254 nm) of 6.1, 5.8, and 5.7 W m -2 , respectively. UV significantly reduced contents of chlorophyll (Chl) a and b, and carotenoids (Car). SA treatment moderated Chl and Car reduction in plants treated with UV-B and UV-C. The quantity of antocyanins, flavonoids, rutin, and UV-absorbing compounds in plants that were treated with UV-B, UV-C, and SA were significantly increased. Foliar spray of SA counteracted the UV effects on pepper.

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