The effects of water stress on some compatible solutes including proline, soluble sugars and glycine betaine, the level of lipid peroxidation and membrane stability in two species of Sainfoin (Onobrychis radiate (Desf.) M.Bieb. and Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) were investigated. The experimental plan was a basic factorial design, completely random with four replications and water stress was applied based on irrigation at 50, 60, 70 and 100% of Field Capacity (FC). Different physiological responses were observed between the species in their response to water stress. Our results showed that O. radiata possessed greater increments in soluble sugars content and glycine betaine than O. viciifolia. The Relative Water Content (RWC) in O. viciifolia was significantly lower comparing with O. radiate. The Relative Water Loss (RWL) of O. viciifolia had significantly decreased compared to control plants in all treatments and O. viciifolia was not able to withstand the 50% soil field capacity and dried out. Lipid peroxidation in O. radiata was lower than O. viciifolia and membrane of leaf cells in O. radiata was more oxidatively stable compared to O. viciifolia.

Salinity is a major environmental stress that affects the crop yields and the pea plants are high sensitive to salt stress. Salinity through oxidative stress damage cell structures, and antioxidants by eliminating free radicals increase tolerance to these stresses. In this research, effects of salt stress and leaf spray with ascorbic acid on growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were investigated. The experiment is conducted as a factorial in a completely random design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. Salt stress has been applied by 0, 50, 100 mM NaCl solution and foliar were treatment by ascorbic acid solution 0, 3 and 6 mM in 3-5 leave stage. plants exposure to sodium chloride, were showed decrease in growth parameters and content of photosynthetic pigments in comparison with control plants, But the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase enzymes and the content of proline and lipid peroxidation were increased. In plants exposed to sodium chloride and ascorbic acid, growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments were higher than plants only exposed to sodium chloride, although the lipid peroxidation and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes and the content of proline were decreased. The results showed that spraying of ascorbic acid (as an antioxidant) is caused tolerance to salt stress and decreased of side effects of sodium chloride in Cicer arietinumm L.