Alleviation of salt-induced adverse effects in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) by glycinebetaine and sugarbeet extracts

Two eggplant cultivars, Dilnasheen and Bemisal, were selected to assess whether pure GB and sugarbeet extract could effectively ameliorate the harmful effects of salt stress on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), under saline conditions. Salt stress markedly suppressed the growth, yield, photosynthetic capacity, internal CO2 level, transpiration, and stomatal conductance in both cultivars. Potassium (K+) and Ca2+ contents and K+/Na+ ratios of both root and leaf were also reduced, while GB and proline in leaves, and Na+ and Cl− contents in roots and leaves were significantly enhanced. Exogenously applied glycinebetaine and sugarbeet extracts significantly counteracted the salt-induced adverse effects on growth, yield, various gas exchange characteristics, GB and leaf K+, Ca+, Cl− and Na+. However, GB and sugarbeet extract showed differential effects on photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration, internal CO2 level, Ci/Ca ratio, leaf K+, Ca2+, and Cl− contents, and K+/Na+ ratio. Sugarbeet extract proved better than the GB in improving growth, photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, yield and GB accumulation. Since, sugarbeet extract contains a substantial amount of GB along with a variety of other important nutrients so it was found as effective as pure GB in improving growth and some key physiological processes in eggplant under salt stress. Thus, it can be used as an alternative cheaper source of GB for its use as an ameliorative agent for protecting plants against the hazardous effects of salt stress.