Seeds of canola (Brassica napus) cultivars "Hayola401" and "Zarfam" were primed with 14 dS m-1 NaCl solution for 24 hours at 20°C. After priming, non-primed (NP) and primed (P) seeds were sown in germination boxes containing perlite. The germination boxes were placed in greenhouse and treated with five different NaCl solutions (0.4 (control), 4, 8, 12 and 16 dS m-1), for a period of 3 weeks. Total emergence and dry weight were higher in canola seedlings derived from P seeds and they emerged earlier than NP seeds. Moreover, seeds from NP groups could tolerate up to 8 dS m-1 NaCl salinity, while the total emergence values of P groups in "Hayola401" and "Zarfam" did not decrease below 50% at 12 and 16 dS m-1 , respectively. NaCl priming enhanced proline accumulation and prevented toxic and nutrient deficiency effects of salinity because less Na + but more K + and especially Ca 2+ was accumulated in canola seedlings. As a matter of fact, Na: Ca 2+ balances of seedlings derived from P seeds were significantly lower than those of NP seeds under similar salinity levels.

No abstract

No abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the contents of different antioxidants compounds and their antioxidant activities in Jalopeno peppers (Capsicum annuum) cultivars (El Dorido, Grande, Tula, Sayula and El Rey) extracts. Free radical scavenging activity of Grande was recorded as high as 87% followed by El Dorido (83%). Results of reducing power (Fe to Fe) showed that Grande (0.85%) and El Dorido (0.81%) fruit extract absorbance value were close to synthetic antioxidant BHT (0. 97%) obtained at100 μg/mL. The results showed that total phenolic content of El Dorido and Grande were significantly higher compared to other Jalapeno pepper. Results indicated strong and positive correlation between antioxidant activity and carotenoids content (r = 0.75), vitamin C (r = 0.78) and total capsaicinoids (r = 0.84), respectively. The results of the antioxidant activity assays showed that the El Dorido and Grande had strongest antioxidant activity compared to other peppers cultivars in this study.

No abstract