Response of Vicia faba to salinity and vitamins

The effect of salinity (180mM NaCl) and vitamins (100 ppm pyridoxine-B₆ or nicotinamide- PP) on the contents of carbohydrates, proteins, proline, total amino acids and the ionic osmotic concentration (electrical conductivity)was examined in salinized bean lines 900-3, 67 and 13 seedlings. Salinity treatments enhanced the production of c:ubohydrate contents and protein fractions, accumulation of proline and free amino acids in the seedlings of lines 900-3 and 67 while the opposite trends were observed in line 13. The ion concentration was significantly increased in response to salinity stress in the seedlings of all the three bean lines. Seed soaking in either vitamin B₆ or vitamin PP alleviated the accumulation of carbohydrates of all the three bean lines, except the insoluble and total carbohydrates in salinized seedling of bean line 13. Vitamin treatments also increased the protein contents, in all tested bean lines. Soaking of seeds in one of the two vitamins exhibited variable responses in the production of the free amino acids and proline in the seedlings of the three bean lines.