ABSTRACT
Polyploid plants are reported to have strong tolerance to environmental stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of salt stress on the concentrations of salt ion, MDA, O2.-, H2O2, and the activities and isoenzymes of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD]), catalase [CAT], peroxidase [POD], and ascorbate peroxidase [APX]) in diploid and tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia L. In diploids, salt treatment induced accumulation of salt ions and increasing of MDA, O2.-, and H2O2. The concentrations of salt ion, MDA, O2.-, and H2O2 in tetraploids were lower than those in diploids, while the activities of SOD, CAT, and APX remained at a higher level. These results indicted that tetraploid R. pseudoacacia have a stronger antioxidant defense system and increased salt tolerance.