Molybdenum application enhances adaptation of crested wheatgrass to salinity stress

Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) is a novel halophyte crop for sustainable agriculture in Northern Kazakhstan. This study investigated the effect of molybdenum (Mo) as molybdate (Na₂MoO_4·2H₂O) and its chemical antagonist tungsten (W) as tungstate (Na₂WO_4·2H₂O) on plant response to salinity treatment. The results showed that the treatment of A. cristatum with Mo significantly improved plant health, as opposed to the W application, which negatively correlated with root and shoot development. Indeed, Mo prevented oxidative damage to plant tissues subjected to salinity stress through increased activities of the three Mo-containing enzymes, nitrate reductase, aldehyde oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase. Contrarily, treatment with tungsten negatively affected these enzymes’ activities, resulting in increased sensitivity to salt stress. Hence, our results suggested that the Mo-treatment might play an important role in the process of halophyte plant A. cristatum adaptation to salt stress.