Seasonal and cultivar differences in salt-induced changes in antioxidant system in tomato

Salt stress has been applied to improve the quality of tomato, but detailed information about the changes in antioxidant systems in salt-stressed fruit is not available. In this study, we examined the effect of salt stress on oxidative parameters, antioxidant content and antioxidant enzymes in two tomato cultivars during two cropping seasons. Salt stress was applied by adding 100 mM NaCl to the nutrient solution. We show that tomato fruits have antioxidant systems to protect themselves from salt-induced oxidative stress. This finding is supported by the lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide levels, which remained unchanged under salt stress conditions. However, these antioxidant systems depend on cultivars and cropping seasons. In the summer crop, the antioxidant systems in salt-stressed ‘House Momotaro’ can be attributed to the enzymatic reactions of ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2), while those in salt-stressed ‘Mini Carol’ can be attributed to their non-enzymatic reactions of ascorbate and glutathione. In the winter crop, the antioxidant systems were not influenced by salt stress in either cultivar. However, the proline content increased in both cropping seasons and cultivars. The seasonal and cultivar differences of salt-induced changes in the antioxidant systems may result from cultivar differences in antioxidant capacities and the interaction between salt stress and growth conditions such as temperature and solar radiation.