Efficiency of yeast in enhancement of the oxidative defense system in salt-stressed flax seedlings.

The combined effects of yeast (1 ppm) and salinity on germination, seedling growth, metabolite accumulation and antioxidant defense system of flax (Linum usitatissimum) seeds grown at 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl were studied. In this investigation, the germination was completely inhibited at 300 mM NaCl. Moreover, salinity induced marked increases in lipid peroxidation product (MDA), soluble carbohydrates as well as the reduced glutathione which were concomitant with sharp decrease in total phenols and ascorbic acid contents in 12-day-old flax seedlings. Furthermore, NaCl treatments increased the activities of some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase; SOD, peroxidase; POX and polyphenol oxidase; PPO). On the other hand, yeast treatments under salinity stress restored the membrane integrity and improved seedling growth. The results suggested that yeast treatments mitigated salinity stress via accumulation of some osmoprotectants such as free amino acids particularly proline which associated with elevating the defense system in terms of ascorbic acid, glutathione and total phenol contents. Yeast treatments also stimulated the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, preventing membrane peroxidation resulting in high capacity for germination and improved seedling growth under sever salt stress.