Comparative study of antioxidant enzymes in salinity tolerant and sensitive rice varieties commonly grown in khazan fields of Goa was undertaken, with an objective to understand the possible role of antioxidant enzymes . Jaya, Jyoti and Korgut (salinity tolerant, sensitive hybrid and tolerant nonhybrid rice varieties resp.) were grown in laboratory conditions with relative humidity (RH) of 70% at 250C, 200μmol m-2 s-1 light intensity for 2 weeks and were further subjected to salinity stress (50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) for 12 days. Spectrophotometric analysis of enzymatic & non enzymatic antioxidants such as, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Glutathione reductase (GR), Total ascorbate (ASC+DHA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were studied. The present study showed an increase in enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants like SOD, GR and GSH in all the three rice varieties. However, the APX activity declined in Jaya and Jyoti in comparison to Korgut. The data thus indicate, the adaptability of these rice varieties to given salinity stress with Korgut being the most tolerant rice variety.
