International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology

International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology

Comparative Analysis of Salinity Stress on the Molecular, Biochemical, and Phenotypic Changes of Different Cabbage species (Brassica)

Document Type : Research paper

Authors
Leyla Shafiei 1
Monireh Ranjbar 2
Nasrin Yazdanpanahi 3
Kahin ShahaniPour 1
1 Department of Biochemistry, Fal.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Biology, Fal.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Biotechnology, Fal.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
10.22059/ijhst.2025.390150.1026
Abstract
This study examined the antioxidant defense capacity of various cabbage species in response to salt stress. Seedlings were exposed to salinity levels of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM for eight days. Results indicated that germination rates, fresh weight, and dry weight decreased with increasing salinity. Notably, Brussels sprouts maintained the highest germination percentage, even at 150 mM. Interestingly, both root and seedling lengths increased under salt stress across all cultivars. Gene expression analysis showed a significant upregulation (P<0.05) of glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities under salinity. Other biological indices, including root and shoot growth, also exhibited increases, reflecting adaptive responses to salt tolerance. Although germination rates declined with higher salinity, the expression of the analyzed antioxidant genes rose by approximately 41.09% at 100 mM but dropped by 13.97% at 150 mM across all cultivars. Overall, the findings underscore the varied responses of Brassica cultivars to salt stress, with Brussels sprouts demonstrating notable resilience and enhanced antioxidant gene expression under high salinity conditions. 
Keywords
Antioxidant
Brassica oleracea
Enzyme activity
Gene expression
Protein content
Salinity stress
International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology
Volume 13, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 531-548

  • Receive Date 07 February 2025
  • Revise Date 21 May 2025
  • Accept Date 26 May 2025