Improvisation of salinity stress response in mung bean through solid matrix priming with normal and nano-sized chitosan.

Nano particles open up a new avenue in crop science because of their unique physicochemical properties. Chitosan is preferred as priming agent in nano-form due to its biodegradability and non toxicity. Prepared nano-chitosan was characterized by Dynamic light scattering study, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy study and scanning electron microscopy. In present study the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses with an emphasis on several oxidative stress markers like proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents of mung bean seedlings to 0, 4 and 8 dS/m salt stress conditions after Solid Matrix Priming (SMP) using the elicitors like nano-chitosan, chitosan and water were studied. The activities of different antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and oxidative stress markers like proline, H2O2 and MDA increased considerably over water control in accordance with salt stress gradient. However, SMP with nano-chitosan showed significant improvement showing reduction in H2O2 and MDA contents over control leading to the better growth, increased chlorophyll content and metabolism. Thus, our study shows that SMP with both normal and nano sized chitosan will be able to overcome the adverse effect of salt stress in mung bean seedlings allowing the activation of their defense mechanisms for better protection against salt stress.