Abstract
FRESH moringa leaf extract (MLE) was applied and its impact was assessed on growth as well as some physiological and biochemical parameters of fenugreek (Trigonellafoenum-graecum) grown under four levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) of NaCl. Salinity decreased growth criteria, the contents of photosynthetic pigments, organic solutes (except proline), total phenols, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, the ratio of K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ and peroxidase (POD) activity. On the other hand, salinity stress boosted the contents of proline, Na+, Cl malonaldehyde (MDA), the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Interestingly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity remained unchanged under salinity levels. Foliar application of MLE ameliorated the negative impact of salinity to considerable extent by enhancing growth traits and all above parameters except Na+, Cl and MDA. Under saline concentrations, foliar application with MLE led to the appearance of new 12 polypeptides. The 39, 21, 19, 17 and 16 kDa protein bands that were absent under the influence of salinity occurred under the combined effect of salinity and MLE. These results proposed that foliar application of MLE could mitigate the harmful effect of salinity on fenugreek and the strategy may be employed to enhance the crop production in saline soils.