Interactive Effects of Inoculated Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Seedlings and Saline Soil

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Lvyuan4) seedlings were either noninoculated or inoculated with four bacteria to study the interactions of salinity in saline soil, cucumber, and bacteria. The seedlings were grown under controlled conditions in pots; the solutions of 100, 200, 400, and 600 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) and bacterial broth were added to the soils. Deionized water was used as control. There were nine treatments in the experiment. Each treatment contained three replications and each replication represented six plants. After 14 days of treatment, morphological characteristics, fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll, soluble sugar, malonaldehyde, proline, nutrient elements, and sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) contents in plants and soils were calculated. Soil salinity inhibited seedlings growth, but low concentration of NaCl promoted plant growth. Soil microbial biomass decreased in saline soils and increased in inoculated treatments. Bacteria had the role of promoting growth and protecting plants against salinity. Bacteria accelerated Na⁺ and Cl^? uptake markedly.     

Drought and Salt Stress Mitigation by Seed Priming with KNO3 and Urea in Various Maize Hybrids: An Experimental Approach Based on Enhancing Antioxidant Responses

Priming offers an effective means for counteracting different stresses induced oxidative injury and raising seed performance in many crop species. The present study was carried out to investigate the ability of potassium nitrate (KNO₃) and urea to promote the tolerance of different maize hybrids to drought and salt stresses to identify some biochemical parameters associated with KNO₃ and urea induced resistance in maize seedlings. An experiment was conducted in a controlled environment of the laboratory at the college of agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz Iran, during 2010. The first factor was stress type and intensity at five levels; moderate drought, severe drought, moderate salt, severe salt, and control (without stress). Seed priming was the second factor; water as control, KNO₃, and urea, and maize hybrids, including Maxima, SC704, Zola, and 304 were the third factor. Results indicated that the highest chlorophyll a (Ch a), chlorophyll b (Ch b), total chlorophyll (Ch T) contents, and carotenoids (Car) were found in no stress treatments and the most proline, protein contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities in severe drought treatment. Also, results revealed that generally, drought and salinity stresses decreased the amount of Ch a and the lowest Ch a was recorded for severe salinity stress (4.29 mg g^?1). Stresses caused decrease in Ch b, but the effect of sever salinity level was higher than the others. Priming of KNO₃ had significantly higher proline content than water and urea priming. The SC704 and 304 hybrids showed higher proline content than the other ones. Finally, the maize seed KNO₃ and urea priming lead to high activities of antioxidant defensive enzymes and increase the tolerance level to abiotic stresses such as salt and drought.     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae on root colonization,growth and productivity of two wheat cultivars under salt stress

Two pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Egypt during 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 to investigate the efficacy of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on root colonization, growth and productivity in two wheat cultivars, Sakha 8 and Giza 167, under salt stress. The extent of the AM effect on wheat development varied with plant cultivar and salinity level. Maximum root colonization and spore production were observed with the Sakha 8 cultivar, which resulted in greater plant growth and productivity at all salinity levels. AM and plant development were adversely affected by increasing salinity. However, the presence of mycorrhizal fungi protected wheat against the detrimental effect of salinity, and stimulated growth, productivity, total crude protein concentration and nitrate reductase activity. The average enhancement in grain yield due to AM inoculation was 76 and 68% at 0.15 mS cm^?1, 93 and 84% at 3.13 mS cm^?1, 130 and 115% at 6.25 mS cm^?1, and 154 and 120% at 9.38 mS cm^?1 salinity for Sakha 8 and Giza 167, respectively. In general, mycorrhizal inoculation enhanced the ability of wheat to cope with saline conditions and using AM inoculants can help plants to thrive in degraded arid/semi-arid areas.     

The Induction of Salinity Stress Resistance in Rosemary as Influenced by Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic Acid

This pot study was carried out as a factorial experiment. The foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) both, at three levels and salinity stress at four levels were applied. The results showed that salinity resulted in a significant loss of most morphological traits, protein, total chlorophyll, and catalase activity, whereas leaf proline content, superoxide dismutase activity, peroxidase and chlorophyll b significantly increased. The interaction of the three studied factors influenced protein content and plant weight significantly. Although salinity stress reduced these traits, SA application improved them. Also, SA application entailed the improvements in plant growth, proline, and antioxidant enzymes under salinity stress. Nonetheless, JA application had slight or insignificant impact on the traits. Thus, we can say that rosemary is relatively capable of coping with salinity. But, when the stress is intensified, even the resistance mechanism of the plant fails to counteract the severe stress.     

Effect of salinity and nitrogen on growth,sodium, potassium accumulation,and osmotic adjustment of halophyte Suaeda aegyptiaca (Hasselq.) Zoh

Suaeda aegyptiaca is an important native annual halophyte in salt-affected soils around coastal areas of the Persian Gulf. In order to study the effects of different levels of saturation paste soil salinity (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 dS m^?1) and nitrogen supply (25, 50, and 75 mg kg^?1 N as urea) on growth and physiological characteristic of S. aegyptiaca, a greenhouse factorial experiment in completely randomized design was conducted with three replications. Salinity treatments were established after early growth of plants and nitrogen was applied in two steps. Results showed that increasing salinity up to 20 dS m^?1 led to increase in dry weight (DW) of plants and this decreased by increasing salinity. Also, DW of plants was significantly increased by application of 75 mg kg^?1 nitrogen. Increasing salinity significantly decreased plant height, chlorophyll index, and total nitrogen content; while proline content and total soluble solids (TSS) were significantly increased. The electrolyte leakage (EL) and sodium concentration were increased under salinity stress. However, further increase in salinity decreased these two parameters. By increasing the nitrogen levels, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll index, proline, and total nitrogen contents were increased, whereas EL was decreased.     

Effect of exogenous proline application on maize yield and the optimum rate of mineral nitrogen under salinity stress

Abstract

Salinity is a negative abiotic stress that produces drastic disorders on soils and plants causing a critical reduction in plant growth and yield parameters, particularly maize plant, which considers a moderately sensitive plant to soil and water salinity. Although proline and nitrogen are well known to protect plants and improve their tolerance against various abiotic stresses including salinity, the interaction between proline and nitrogen fertilizer under saline conditions remained unclear. Two field experiments were conducted, on a clay saline soil in a split-plot design with four replicates. The main plots were arranged to study the effect of exogenous of proline applications at 0, 50 and 100?mM during seedling and vegetative stages, and mineral of nitrogen fertilization rates were 0, 140, 280, and 420?kg N ha^?1 occupied the subplots. A significant response to fertilizer N was observed at 420?kg ha^?1, while the optimum N rate of 50?mM of proline was 410.3?kg ha^?1 and the economic optimum dose was 403.43?kg ha^?1. Therefore, we recommend using 403.43?kg N ha^?1 to get an optimum economic yield of maize, especially in saline soil, when used 50?mM exogenous of proline at seedling and vegetative stages.     

Effects of biofertilizers and cycocel on some physiological and biochemical traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salinity stress

In order to study the effects of biofertilizers and cycocel on some physiological and biochemical characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salinity condition, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications under greenhouse condition in 2015. Treatments were included salinity in four levels [no salt (control or S₀), salinity 30 (S₁), 60 (S₂) and 90 (S₃) mM NaCl equivalent of 2.76, 5.53 and 8.3 dS m^?1, respectively], four biofertilizers levels [no biofertilizer (F₀), seed inoculation by Azotobacter chrocoocum strain 5 (F₁), Pseudomonas putida strain 186 (F₂), both inoculation Azotobacter + Pseudomonas (F₃)] and three cycocel levels [without cycocel as control (C₀), application of 600 (C₁) and 1000 (C₂) mg L^?1]. Results showed that salinity severe stress (90 mM) decreased chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll, photochemical efficiency of PSII and yield of wheat. Whereas, soluble sugars and proline content, electrical conductivity (EC), the activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes were increased. Similar results were observed in CAT, POD and PPO activities due to inoculation by biofertilizers and cycocel. Salinity at 30 mM increased the photochemical efficiency of PSII and chlorophyll content in plants grown under biofertilizer and cycocel treatment but with increasing salinity up to 90 mM mentioned parameters were decreased. The highest proline and soluble carbohydrate at all salinity levels were observed in plants treated in the highest cycocel level and Azotobacter+ Pseudomonas application. Generally, it was concluded that biofertilizers and cycocel can be used as a proper tool for increasing wheat yield under salinity condition.     

Soil Salinity Dynamics under Drip Irrigation and Mulch Film and Their Effects on Cotton Root Length

A field experiment based on a monolith method using flooding irrigation under mulch film (FI) as a control was conducted to investigate soil salinity dynamics under drip irrigation with mulch film (DI) and its effects on cotton root length. The average soil salinity increased with duration of irrigation, but salt distribution in the soil profile was uneven and showed strong accumulation in the soil between adjacent mulch films. With advancing growth of cotton plants, the area of salt accumulation gradually expanded, especially from 110 to 125 days after sowing (DAS), when salinity distinctly increased in the 0- to 40-cm soil depth and at distances 30–70 cm from drip lines; the electrical conductivity (EC) under DI in all soil samples was at least 3 mS cm^?1 and in some cases exceeded 5 mS cm^?1. Root length declined significantly by 18.1% from 110 to 125 DAS under DI. The soil area showing the greatest decline in root length under DI coincided with the main site of salt accumulation. Correlation analysis of soil EC and root length density indicated the root length declined when soil salt content exceeded 2.8 mS cm^?1. However, under FI salt accumulation barely exceeded 2.8 mS cm^?1 and no reduction in root length was observed. The results indicated that the main reason for decreased root length in cotton under DI was localized accumulation of salinity.     

Effects of Salinity and Nitrogen on Growth,Contents of Pigments,and Ion Accumulation of a Euhalophyte Suaeda Salsa in an Intertidal Zone and on Saline Inland

The different responses of two populations of Suaeda salsa (Linn.) Pall. (saline seepweed) from an intertidal zone and a saline inland zone to salinity [1 or 500 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] and nitrogen [N; 0.05, 1, or 10 mM nitrate (NO₃ ^?)‐N] were investigated. Greater NO₃ ^?‐N supply (10 mM) increased shoot dry weight for the two populations of S. salsa, especially for S. salsa from the saline inland zone. Greater NO₃ ^?‐N supply (10 mM) increased the concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoid in leaves and the NO₃ ^? and potassium (K⁺) concentrations in shoots for both populations. Greater NO₃ ^?‐N supply (10 mM) increased shoot Na⁺ in S. salsa from the intertidal zone. In conclusion, S. salsa from the saline inland zone is more responsive to NO₃ ^?‐N supply than the intertidal population. Greater NO₃ ^?‐N supply can help the species, especially the intertidal population, to grow and to mediate ion homeostasis under high salinity.     

Effects of Nitrogen Application on Chlorophyll Content,Water Relations,and Yield of Maize Hybrids under Saline Conditions

An experiment was conducted to assess whether accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, proline, and maintenance of water relation attributes relate to the yield of maize hybrids differing in salt tolerance. Two maize hybrids, Pioneer32B33 and Dekalb979, were grown at three salinity levels under four nitrogen treatments. The experiment was laid out in a three-factor randomized complete block design and there were three replications of each treatment. Salt stress significantly decreased leaf chlorophyll a and a/b contents, whereas chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were slightly increased. Under salinity stress, relative water content decreased, and water potential and osmotic potential become more negative. As a result, turgor potential also decreased. Nitrogen application improved all the chlorophyll pigments, water-related attributes, and yield components. However, chlorophyll a/b ratio was decreased. Overall, because of the differential response of maize hybrids to salt stress in terms of their performance in photosynthetic pigments, water relations, and yield, it can be concluded that hybrid Pioneer32B33 might perform better, if grown under salinity regime and sufficient nitrogen was applied in the growth medium.     

Response of Cherry Rootstocks to Boron and Salinity

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present research was to study the effects of boron (B) and potassium chloride (KCl) induced salinity on growth, nutritional status, and chlorophyll content of the cherry rootstocks CAB 6P (Prunus cerasus L.) and Gisela 5 (Prunus cerasus L. × Prunus canescens L.). Plants produced the longest shoots, more leaves, and the greatest fresh weights of shoots and leaves when treated with 0.025 mM B combined with the lower level of salinity (0.75 dS m^?1). CAB 6P plants retained most of their leaves until the end of the experiment, whereas Gisela 5 plants showed higher leaf shedding. Irrigation of plants with solutions containing 0.2 mM B and electrical conductivities (EC) of 4 dS m^?1 resulted in lower leaf chlorophyll contents (SPAD units) when compared with all other treatments. Nitrogen (N) concentrations of leaves from both rootstocks decreased as the EC of the nutrient solution increased from 0.75 to 4 mM. Potassium (K) concentrations of leaves from both rootstocks increased as salinity levels increased.     

Calcium Sulfate Improves Salinity Tolerance in Rootstocks of Plum

ABSTRACT

Three vegetative rootstocks of plum (Prunus domestica), Marianna GF 8-1 (Prunus cerasifera × munsoniana), Myrobolan B (P. Cerasifera) and Pixy (P. Insititia) were grown in pots containing sand and irrigated with complete nutrient solution to investigate the effect of calcium sulfate supplied to the nutrient solution on plants grown under salt stress. Treatments were (1) control (C): nutrient solution alone; (2) S (salinity stress): 40 mM NaCl; (3) S+Ca1: 40 mM NaCl +2.5 mM calcium (Ca) and (4) S+Ca₂: 40 mM NaCl + 5 mM Ca. Calcium was supplied as CaSO₄. The plants grown under 40 mol L^?1 NaCl produced less dry matter and had lower chlorophyll content than those without NaCl. Supplementary CaSO₄ at both 2.5 and 5 mM concentrations ameliorated the negative effects of salinity on plant dry matter and chlorophyll content. Salt treatment impaired membrane permeability by increasing electrolyte leakage. The addition of calcium sulfate partially maintained membrane permeability. Sodium (Na) concentration in plant tissues increased in both leaves and roots of plants under the high NaCl treatment. Pixy had much lower Na. The CaSO₄ treatments lowered significantly the concentrations of Na in both leaves and roots. Pixy was more tolerant to salinity than the other two rootstocks. The accumulation of Na in leaves and roots indicates a possible mechanism whereby Pixy copes with salinity in the rooting medium, and/or may indicate the existence of an inhibition mechanism of Na transport to leaves. Concentrations of Ca and K were lower in the plants grown at high NaCl than in those under the control treatment, and these two element concentrations were increased by calcium sulfate treatments in both leaves and roots, but remained lower than control values in most cases.     

Effect of Piriformospora indica and Azospirillum strains from saline or non-saline soil on mitigation of the effects of NaCl

Salinity toxicity is a worldwide agricultural and eco-environmental problem. The intent of this study was to determine the salt tolerance of Piriformospora indica and strains of Azospirillum, isolated from non-saline and saline soil, as well as to determine their affect on the tolerance of wheat to soil salinity. In this study, an experiment was conducted to investigate the salt stress tolerance abilities of the endophytic fungi, P. indica, and Azospirillum strains, isolated from non-saline and saline soil, at five NaCl levels (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mol L^?1). Additionally, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to test the effects of these selected microorganisms under increasing salinity levels on seedling growth, solute accumulation (proline and sugars), and photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, b, ab) of seedling wheat. Azospirillum strains were isolated in Iran from the root of field-grown maize from non-saline soil with an EC = 0.7 dS m^?1 and from saline soil with an EC = 4.7 dS m^?1. Plants were irrigated with non-saline water–tap water with an electrical conductivity water (ECw) value of 0.2 dS m^?1, as well as low, moderate and severe saline water-irrigation with saline water with an ECw of 4 dS m^?1, 8 dS m^?1 and 12 dS m^?1, respectively. The upper threshold of P. indica salinity tolerance was 0.4 mol L^?1 NaCl in both liquid and solid broth medium. The upper thresholds of the salt adapted and non-adapted Azospirillum strains were 0.2 and 0.4 mol L^?1 NaCl, respectively. The results indicated a positive influence of the organisms on salinity tolerance, more with the saline-adapted Azospirillum strains than the non-adapted strains. P. indica was more effective than the Azospirillum strains. These results could be related to a better water status, higher photosynthetic pigment contents and proline accumulation in wheat seedlings inoculated with P. indica. The benefits of both isolates and P. indica depended on two factors: water salinity and growth stage of the host plant. Inoculation with the two isolates increased salinity tolerance of wheat plants; the saline-adapted Azospirillum strains showed better performance with respect to improved fresh and dry weights at 80 and 100 days after sowing under both non-saline and saline conditions. When compared to plants inoculated with non-saline-adapted Azospirillum strains, those inoculated with adapted Azospirillum strains had much better performance with respect to the presence of photosynthetic pigment (Chl a, b and ab) and proline accumulation. Overall, these results indicate that the symbiotic association between P. indica fungus and wheat plants improved wheat growth, regardless of the salinity. It is concluded that the mechanisms for protecting plants from the detrimental effects of salinity by P. indica fungus and Azospirillum strains may differ in their salinity tolerance and influence the uptake of water, photosynthetic pigment contents and proline accumulation in wheat seedlings.     

Roles of glycine betaine in mitigating deleterious effect of salt stress on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

This study was conducted to evaluate the roles of glycine betaine (GB) in mitigating deleterious effect of salt stress on lettuce. Lettuce plants were subjected to two salinity (0 and 100 mmol l^?1 NaCl) and four GB levels (0, 5, 10, 25 mmol l^?1). Salinity resulted in a remarkable decrease in growth parameters, relative leaf water content and stomatal conductance. Plants subjected to salt stress exhibited an increase in membrane permeability (MP), lipid peroxidation (MDA), leaf chlorophyll reading value, H₂O₂ and sugar content. Exogenous foliar applications of GB reduced MP, MDA and H₂O₂ content in salt-stressed lettuce plants. Salt stress increased Na and generally decreased other nutrient elements. GB reduced Na accumulation, but significantly increased other element contents under salinity conditions. The study showed that gibberellic acid (GA) and salicylic acid (SA) content in salt-stressed plants were lower than those of nonstressed plants. However, salinity conditions generally increased the abscisic acid content. GB treatments elevated the concentrations of GA, SA and indole acetic acid (IAA) at especially 10 and 25 mmol l^?1 GB under salt stress conditions. It could be concluded that exogenous GB applications could ameliorate the harmful effects of salt stress in lettuce.     

Silicon-induced changes in growth,ionic composition,water relations,chlorophyll contents and membrane permeability in two salt-stressed wheat genotypes

We investigated the effect of exogenously applied silicon (Si) on the growth and physiological attributes of wheat grown under sodium chloride salinity stress in two independent experiments. In the first experiment, two wheat genotypes SARC-3 (salt tolerant) and Auqab 2000 (salt sensitive) were grown in nutrient solution containing 0 and 100 mM sodium chloride supplemented with 2 mM Si or not. Salinity stress substantially reduced shoot and root dry matter in both genotypes; nonetheless, reduction in shoot dry weight was (2.6-fold) lower in SARC-3 than in Auqab 2000 (5-fold). Application of Si increased shoot and root dry weight and plant water contents in both normal and saline conditions. Shoot Na⁺ and Na⁺:K⁺ ratio also decreased with Si application under stress conditions. In the second experiment, both genotypes were grown in normal nutrient solution with and without 2 mM Si. After 12 days, seedlings were transferred to 1-l plastic pots and 150 mM sodium chloride salinity stress was imposed for 10 days to all pots. Shoot growth, chlorophyll content and membrane permeability were improved by Si application. Improved growth of salt-stressed wheat by Si application was mainly attributed to improved plant water contents in shoots, chlorophyll content, decreased Na⁺ and increased K⁺ concentrations in shoots as well as maintained membrane permeability.     

Effect of salt stress on photosynthesis and related physiological characteristics of Lycium ruthenicum Murr

Halophytes could withstand the hyper-salinity soil and survive widely in areas where soil salt content is high because they can endure salt stress to a certain extent. Lycium ruthenicum Murr (LRM), with significant nutritional and medicinal values, is one of the most important native halophytes in the arid oasis-desert transition zone of northwestern China. In recent years, artificially planting LRM has been being popular since it can improve saline-alkalized soil and increase the income of local farmers as well. More efforts about the artificial planting of LRM are put in enhancing the productivity and quality, but survivorship of LRM seedling by appropriate saline irrigation is still unclear in arid areas. A field experiment was conducted to explore the responses of LRM to four levels of saline water irrigation (Ec of irrigation water: 2.00?μs?cm^?1 (T₁), 4.51?μs?cm^?1 (T₂), 6.89?μs?cm^?1 (T₃), and 9.00?μs?cm^?1 (T₄)) during the growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. The average soil electrical conductivity (Ec_a) in 0–60 cm depth increased while the biomass of LRM decreased with increasing Ec of irrigation water, and the differences of Ec_a among treatments decreased with increasing salinity level. In contrast to previous research findings, salt stress had more significant effect on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of LRM, in which great changes were caused by a threshold following the increased salinity. Most of the light energy absorbed by LRM was used for photosynthesis and heat dissipation when soil salinity was low, what was used for chlorophyll fluorescence when soil salinity was high. The results of the experiment indicate that T₂ was the most suitable irrigation method for artificially planting LRM in the field, and it’s the key to save freshwater resources in arid areas and improve the production of saline-alkali land.     

INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION ON PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF TWO BARLEY SPECIES

Salinity is one of the most important agricultural problems in Iran. The effect of different levels of salinity and phosphorus on shoot length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, nutrient elements (sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), phosphorus (P) and chloride (Cl^?), proline and soluble sugar contents of barley were investigated. Two cultivars of barley, Hordeum murinum (wild resistant germplasm) and Hordeum vulgar, variety Afzal were treated in vegetative stage under hydroponics condition in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized block (CRB) design with four levels of salinity [0, 100, 200 and 300 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] and three levels of phosphorus (15, 30 and 55 μm L^?1) with three replications. By increasing salinity, all the measured parameters, except sodium (Na⁺) content were reduced. Furthermore, with increased in phosphorus levels from 15 to 55 μm, Na⁺ content of the plant shoots decreased, but length, fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots and K⁺, P, Cl^?, proline, and soluble sugars content of the shoots increased. The results indicated that accumulation of mineral ions for osmotic adjustment and restriction of Na⁺ accumulation in shoots were involved in phosphorus enhancement of the salt tolerance of barley. Thus, it seems that in saline soils, where there is no possibility for soil leaching and amending, application of phosphorus fertilizers can lead to a satisfactory growth and production in barely yield.     

RESPONSES OF SOME ENZYMES AND KEY GROWTH PARAMETERS OF SALT-STRESSED MAIZE PLANTS TO FOLIAR AND SEED APPLICATIONS OF KINETIN AND INDOLE ACETIC ACID

The study examined the effects of kinetin (KIN) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) applied as seed treatment or sprayed on leaves of salinity stressed plants. Five -week old maize (Zea mays L. cv. ‘DK 647 F1’) plants were grown in pots containing peat and perlite in 1:1 (v/v) mixture. Different treatments used were: 1) control (nutrient solution alone), 2) salt stress [100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)], 3) 100 mM NaCl and 1 mM kinetin (KIN), 4) 100 mM NaCl and 2 mM KIN, 5) 100 mM NaCl and 1 mM indole acetic acid (IAA), 6) 100 mM NaCl and 2 mM IAA, 7) 100 mM NaCl and 25 mg L^?1 KIN and 8) 100 mM NaCl and 25 mg L^?1 IAA. In treatments 7 and 8 application was to the seeds, for treatments 3-6 it was applied to foliage. The seeds were soaked in KIN or IAA solution for 12 h. Salt stress reduced the total dry matter, chlorophyll content, and relative water content (RWC), but increased proline accumulation, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POD; EC. 1.11.1.7), catalase (CAT; EC. 1.11.1.6) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO; 1.10.3.1) and electrolyte leakage. Both foliar applications of KIN and IAA treatments overcame to variable extents the adverse effects of NaCl stress on the above mentioned physiological parameters. However, seed treatments with KIN or IAA did not improve salinity tolerance in maize plants. Furthermore, foliar application or seed treatments with KIN and IAA reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the salt stressed-plants. Salt stress lowered some macronutrient concentrations [calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) in leaves and roots, phosphorus (P) in roots] but foliar application of both KIN and IAA increased Ca in both leaves and roots and P in leaves. Foliar application of IAA increased K concentrations in leaves of the salt-stressed plants. Foliar application of KIN and IAA, especially at 2 mM concentration, counteracted some of the adverse effects of NaCl salinity by causing the accumulation of proline and essential inorganic nutrients as well as by maintaining membrane permeability.     

Evaluation of Salinity Effects on Ionic Balance and Compatible Solute Contents in Nine Grape (Vitis L.) Genotypes

The salinity tolerance of nine grape genotypes was studied. Salinity was applied as nutrient solutions containing 0, 25, 50, and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) for two weeks. Growth was significantly reduced by salinity, whereas chloride (Cl^?) and sodium (Na⁺) contents increased. Sodium ion accumulation exceeded that of Cl^? in all treatments. Shirazi and H₆ had higher and lower Cl^? concentrations in their lamina than others. There were significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) between Cl^? and Na⁺ and negative correlation between Na⁺ and potassium (K⁺) in roots and laminas of all genotypes. Soluble sugars, proline, and glycine betaine contents increased in laminas of all of the genotypes with moderate salinity. There were positive correlations (P < 0.01) between lamina and root Na⁺ and Cl^? contents and compatible solutes in all genotypes. Overall results revealed that unlike Shirazi with higher Na⁺ and Cl^? accumulation in shoot, H₆ showed a higher capacity to restrict Na⁺ and Cl^? transport to shoot.     

Response of Digitalis purpurea plants to temporary salinity

Abstract

The effect of two different levels of salinity upon adult plants of Digitalis purpurea has been studied. Seeds of D. purpurea plants were sown in pots of equal size and moistened with deionized water during one year. Afterwards, different treatments with NaCl were initiated, the concentrations being 100 mM and 200 mM NaCl in irrigation water during 63 days. Growth, measured as dry and fresh weight, and soluble protein contents, were lower in stressed plants than in control plants. Monovalent cation analysis showed that in leaves K⁺ plus Na⁺ (Total M) values did not change with the different treatments, but that in roots these values increased with the increasing salinity stress. On the other hand, proline levels were higher in stressed plants although the accumulation of this amino acid was not significant In leaves, Cl^? levels increased linearly with salinity degree, and the accumulation of this ion was faster than that of Na⁺, whereas in roots, the Cl^? level remained relatively low.

Total cardenolide levels in leaves and roots of the 100 mM NaCl plants were higher than those in 200 mM NaCl and control plants. We infer that moderate salinity conditions lead to raised cardenolide levels, principally in leaves, but the reason for this is not clear.