Effects of sodium molybdate on osmolytes and membrane stability of Pennisetum alopecuroides seedlings under low temperature stress

Effects of different concentrations of sodium molybdate on osmolytes and membrane stability of Pennisetum alopecuroides seedlings under low temperature stress were investigated in this study. Results of experiments indicated that sodium molybdate application in P.alopecuroides seedlings induced a dramatic increase in total chlorophyll, soluble protein, ascorbic acid, soluble sugar and free proline contents under low temperature stress. Sodium molybdate application also caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde content and membrane permeability. The lowest effect concentration of sodium molybdate application was 0.5 mgL-1 to alleviate the low temperature stress. There was no significant difference in osmolytes and membrane stability of P.alopecuroides seedlings treated with sodium molybdate at the 0.5~5.0 mgL-1 concentration range. It could be speculated that sodium molybdate application enhanced cold resistance by increasing the osmolyte content and alleviating membrane damage in P.alopecuroides seedlings under low temperature stress.