Antioxidant responses under salinity and drought in three closely related wild monocots with different ecological optima

We studied the level of oxidative stress and the activation of antioxidant responses in three rush species - sea rush (Juncus maritimus), spiny rush (J. acutus) and jointleaf rush (J. articulatus) - subjected to salt and water stress treatments. The halophytes J. maritimus and J. acutus were the most tolerant taxa; they were less affected by oxidative stress than the salt-sensitive J. articulatus under both conditions, due to more efficient activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Our results show the relative importance of different antioxidant responses for stress tolerance in species with distinct ecological requirements.