Cell membrane stability and leaf water relations as affected by phosphorus nutrition under water stress in maize

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of P nutrition under water stress on the cell membrane stability measured by the polyethylene glycol test, plant growth, and internal plant water relations in maize (Zea mays L.). Adaptation to water deficits with improved P nutrition was observed. The cell membrane stability increased, leaf water potential and osmotic potential decreased, and turgor potential increased with improved P nutrition. Osmoregulation was evident with improved P nutrition. Sugar and K were the major osmotic contributors. Total plant dry weight and relative growth rate increased with improved P nutrition under water stress, suggesting that the supply of extra P to plants may be beneficial to increase the tolerance to drought.     

Adjustment of mineral ratio and composition in rice genotypes under varied salinity regimes

A study of the salinity effect on mineral content in rice genotypes differing in salt tolerance was conducted in a factorial Completely Randomized Design experiment. The results indicated that the genotypes developed differently by mutation conventional breeding. NS15 represented as salt-sensitive, Pokkali was included as an internationally salt-tolerant check and Iratom24 was moderately tolerant. The content of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl^? followed an increasing pattern in roots and shoots of all the rice genotypes due to increasing salinity levels except Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the root. However, the concentration of K⁺ showed more or less an increasing pattern in root and a decreasing pattern in shoot. The concentration of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ sharply increased with increasing the salinity levels in both the roots and shoots of NS15. The concentration of K⁺ sharply decreased in shoot and increased in the root of susceptible genotype NS15 with increasing salinity over 6 dS m^?1 salinity levels, where the transformation of K⁺ from root to shoot was disrupted by Na⁺. The Cl^? content sharply increased with increasing salinity in the root of NS15 as compared to shoot. The effect of different salinity levels on Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in the shoots of the selected rice genotypes sharply increased in susceptible genotype NS15 as compared to the other genotypes.     

Effect of salinity on growth,photosynthesis and mineral composition in leguminous plant Alhagi pseudoalhagi (Bieb.)

Leguminous plant Alhagi pseudoalhagi was subjected to 0 (control), 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCI treatments during a 30 d period to examine the mechanism of tolerance to salinity. Plant dry weight, net CO₂ assimilation rate, leaf stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, and solute concentration in leaves, stems, and roots were determined. Total plant weight in the 50 mM treatment was 170% of that of the control after 10 d of treatment. Total plant weight was lower in the 100 and 200 mM treatments than in the control. The leaf CO₂ assimilation rate was approximately 150% of that of the control in the 50 mM treatment, but was not affected significantly by 100 mM of NaCI, while it was reduced to about 60% of that the control in the 200 mM treatment. Similarly stomatal conductance was consistent with the CO₂ assimilation rate regardless of the treatments. Intercellular CO₂ concentration was lower in the NaCI-treated plants than in the control. Changes in CO₂ assimilation rate due to salinity stress could be mainly associated with stomatal conductance and the carboxylation activity. Although the leaf Na⁺ concentration increased to 900 mmol kg^-1 dry weight in the 200 mM treatment compared to 20 mmol kg^-1 in the control, the plants did not die and continued to grow at such a high leaf Na⁺ concentration. Uptake and transportation rates of Na+, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺, and the accumulation of N were promoted by 50 mM NaCI. Na⁺ uptake rate continued to increase in response to external NaCI concentration. However, the uptake and transportation rates of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺ behaved differently under 100 and 200 mM salt stress. The results suggest that A. pseudoalhagi is markedly tolerant to salinity due mainly to its photosynthetic activity rather than to other physiological characteristics.     

Seed germination and seedling growth parameters in nine tall fescue varieties under salinity stress

ABSTRACT

To assess seed germination parameters and identifying tolerant varieties, seeds of nine tall fescue varieties (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were germinated under various salinity levels for 14 days. Tall fescue is considered ‘moderately tolerant’ to salinity stress, but our study revealed a remarkable diversity among the tested varieties. Armani, Essential, Fatcat, and Starlett were found to reach the same final germination (>90%), irrespective of NaCl concentration up to 15 ds m^?1 NaCl; Asterix and Meandre expressed lower germination under the highest salinity level (>75%); and final germination decreased in Eyecandy, Rhizing star, and Thomahawk gradually with increasing salinity (>55%). The main effect of increasing salinity was a delay in germination, and our study suggests that the recording of final germination, which is performed on day-14 in a standard germination test, should be postponed in order to understand the full effect of salinity on germination potential. Nonetheless, a delay in germination will affect turf quality negatively and hence there is good reason to test for salinity tolerance when choosing a variety for sowing on saline soil. Further, our findings indicate a future perspective for breeding for improved salinity tolerance in tall fescue by the identification of salinity-tolerant breeding lines or varieties.     

Growth,ion accumulation,and lipid composition of two olive genotypes under salinity 1

Olive (Olea europaea L cv. Leccino and cv. Frantoio) plants grown in aeroponic cultivation system were supplied with Hoagland solutions containing 0 and 150 mM NaCl for 4 weeks. Sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl^‐), and potassium (K⁺) concentration was measued on 15‐day‐old leaves and K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio was calculated. Plant water relations were estimated on the same leaves by measuring leaf bulk water and osmotic potentials, and by calculating leaf turgor pressure. Root and leaf tissues were also analysed for lipid composition, estimating free sterol (FS), glycolipid (GL) and phospholipd (PL) content. The salt‐sensitive Leccino accumulated more Na⁺ and Cl^‐ in the leaves and showed a lower K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio than the salt‐tolerant Frantoio. The FS/PL ratio and the content of GL (namely mono‐galactosyldiglyceride, MGDG) in the roots were related to the salt accumulation in the shoot. Salinity‐induced changes on root lipids were more important in Frantoio than in Leccino, indicating the specific role of the roots in salt exclusion mechanisms. Conversely the effect of salinity on leaf lipid composition was more important in the leaves of the salt‐sensitive Leccino.     

Comparison of growth and mineral accumulation of two solanaceous species,Solanum scabrum Mill. (huckleberry) and S. melongena L. (eggplant), under salinity stress

Solanum scabrum Mill. (huckleberry) is widespread in West, East and Central Africa, where it constitutes one of the most important leafy vegetables. However, the salinity tolerance of this crop has not yet been assessed. The objective of this study was to assess the response of huckleberry to salinity stress in comparison with eggplant (S. melongena L.). Four-week-old seedlings of both species were subjected to two levels of salinity stress, 50 mM and 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), for 14 d. Leaf water potential of both species decreased with increasing salinity stress. This decrease was lower in huckleberry than in eggplant. Total dry weight and total leaf area were also decreased by salinity, and the reductions of total dry weight and total leaf area under the 50 mM treatment compared with the control were 25 and 18% in huckleberry, while they were 47 and 55% in eggplant, respectively. The increases in leaf sodium (Na) accumulation in the 50 and 150 mM treatments compared with the control were 65 and 66% for eggplant and 18 and 36% for huckleberry, respectively. Na accumulation in stem and root in huckleberry was higher than that of leaf, whereas it was the reverse in eggplant under both salinity treatments. Huckleberry accumulated less Na in the leaves than eggplant, suggesting that huckleberry might reduce the transport of Na to its leaves more effectively than eggplant. The decrease of potassium (K) accumulation and the increase of Na in leaves by salinity resulted in a higher Na/K ratio in leaves, but this trend was greater in eggplant than in huckleberry. The calcium (Ca) concentration in leaves of huckleberry was also increased by salinity, whereas that of eggplant was decreased. These results indicate that huckleberry is more tolerant to salinity than eggplant, and less decrease in leaf area associated with lower leaf Na and increased Ca concentrations may be important in enhancing quality and sustaining productivity of the crop under this stress.     

Growth and acquisition of Na,K and Ca in some elite sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (Lam.) L.] genotypes under salinity stress

Soil salinity is a concern in the wake of climate change challenges due to rising sea levels and coastal salinity in Papua New Guinea. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in Split Plot design, with five elite sweet potato genotypes (main-plot factors) and three levels of sodium chlroide (NaCl) concentrations (sub-plot factors) replicated six times. The vine cuttings of genotype RAB 45 showed very low mortality percentage (33%) at 600 mM NaCl concentration. At salinity level of 200 mM NaCl, aerial dry biomass of the genotypes was inversely but significantly (r = –0.40; p < 0.05) related to the accumulation of sodium (Na⁺) in the tissues. The Na⁺ accumulation in the tissues was antagonistic to the potassium (K⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) ions. Among the sweetpotato genotypes, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio decreased in the following order: RAB 45> KAV 11 > Northern Star > DOY 2 > L 46, which was more or less corroborated with the trend in the aerial dry matter.     

Characterization of salt tolerance in tomato plant in terms of photosynthesis and water relations

Three commercial tomato cultivars (UC-97, Momotaro, and Edkawi) were subjected to a gradual increase of NaCI concentrations and the effect on biomass production and its parameters was compared. The data indicated that salinity reduced plant growth and the reduction was more pronounced in UC-97 and less in Edkawi. The apparent photosynthetic rate (P _o) was also depressed by the salt treatment and the depression was more remarkable in UC-97 and less in Edkawi. Edkawi shoot showed a much higher concentration of sodium ion and proline compared with the other cultivars, which may result in the maintenance of a higher turgor potential. In all the cultivars examined the stem diameter decreased after the beginning of exposure to light and recovered after the light was turned off. The decrease in the stem diameter during day light was enhanced and the recovery at night decreased after 1 d of salt treatment and the changes in the stem diameter were less conspicuous in Edkawi than in the other cultivars. These results suggest that Edkawi is more tolerant to salinity than the other cultivars due to a higher ability of maintaining the root function for the uptake and supply of water to shoot under salinity conditions but not due to the adjustment of transpiration from stomata.     

Leaf photosynthesis,chlorophyll fluorescence and ion content of barley (Hordeum vulgare) in response to salinity

Eight barley genotypes contrasting in their salinity tolerance were assessed for their chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic performance, lipid peroxidation level and ionic content. A pot experiment was conducted in Borj-Cedria (Tunisia), in a wire house with a glass roof to avoid rainfall. The assay consisted of three treatments (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl) with eight barley genotypes following a completely randomized design. Each pot was considered as one replicate and nine replicates were used for each genotype and treatment. The salt-tolerant genotypes Kerkna and Tichedrett recorded the highest tolerance for photosynthesis and potassium accumulation, whereas the susceptible genotypes were mostly affected at severe salinity. Contrasting behavior was noted for fluorescence attributes, while PSII yield was unchanged reflecting good protection against photodamage. Photosynthetic performance, enhanced water use efficiency, maintained leaf K⁺ and oxidative defense remain the key components for tolerance mechanisms. Salt-tolerant barley could be suitable for management of salt-affected soils.     

Growth and plant zinc distribution in two navy bean varieties fertilized with zinc

Abstract

Sanilac and Saginaw varieties of navy beans were grown on Wisner silty clay loam. Treatments of no added Zn and 3 ppm Zn were applied to the soil fertilized with N, K, and 500 ppm P. Selected plant tissues were harvested two, four, six, or eight weeks after planting.

The weights and Zn contents of some tissues were not affected by Zn application regardless of variety but the growth of the plant parts above the primary leaves and the Zn contents of the trifoliolate leaves increased with Zn rate. The three oldest trifoliolate leaves and younger tissues showed equal or greater increases in growth and Zn contents than the total plant tops, but the primary leaves and the lower portions of stems were less influenced by available Zn in the soil. These responses indicated that the three oldest trifoliolate leaves were the most reliable indexes for available Zn throughout the growing period.

As the plants matured, the growth and Zn contents of the young tissues of the Saginaw variety responded more to Zn fertilization than did the young tissues of Sanilac. This differential response appeared to be partially due to the lower plant weights of the Saginaw than the Sanilac variety where no Zn had been applied to the soil.     

Effect of salinity on growth and solute accumulation in two wheat lines differing in salt tolerance

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) line, Saline Agriculture Research Center line 1 (SARC), was selected in a salinity tolerance improvement program at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. In this study we compared SARC with Pothowar which is a common wheat cultivar grown in the same region, in order to study the mechanism of salinity tolerance in the SARC line. Two wheat lines were planted in pots and were subjected to salt stress by daily application of a 200 mM NaCI solution for 30 d during the vegetative growth stage. Dry weight of plant parts, leaf area, leaf water status, and solute concentrations in the cell sap of the leaf tissues were determined at 13 and 30 d after initiation of the stress treatment. Decrease in the plant dry weight and leaf area due to salt stress was more pronounced in Pothowar than in SARC, indicating that SARC was more tolerant to salinity. SARC maintained a higher turgor at low leaf water potentials and showed a higher capacity of osmotic adjustment compared to Pothowar. Major osmotic a that increased by salinity in order to maintain a lower osmotic potential in the two lines were Na⁺, Cl^-, K⁺, and glycinebetaine. Increase in the concentrations of Na⁺, Cl^-, and glycinebetaine was much higher in SARC than in Pothower. These results suggested that the SARC line had a physiological mechanism that conferred a higher salinity tolerance.     

Growth and chlorophyll,mineral, and total amino acid composition of tomato and wheat plants in relation to nitrogen and iron nutrition II. Chlorophyll content and total amino acid composition

Studies of the amino acids distribution in plants subjected to nutrient regimes are limited. The present study investigated the effect of NO₃‐N and FeSO₄‐Fe regimes on chlorophyll and total amino acids composition of tomato and wheat plants. Also the distribution of 17 amino acids between the different plant parts was studied. Increasing the NO₃‐N level up to 200 mg kg^‐1 greatly increased the total amino acids content of tomato plants. The total amino acids content of wheat plants continued to increase with addition of NO₃‐N up to 400 mg kg^‐1. The response of chlorophyll content to NO₃‐N supply was highly dependent on Fe level both in tomato and wheat plants. The interaction between NO₃‐N and FeSO₄‐Fe had a great effect on the total amino acids content and distribution. Iron increased the translocation of proline from roots to leaves. The overall amino acids contents of leaves was higher than that of stems or roots.     

Growth,yield and fruit quality of cherry tomato irrigated with saline water at different developmental stages

Water shortage is a serious environmental and agricultural problem and saline underground water has been widely used to make up the fresh water shortage in northwestern China. An open-field experiment was conducted to establish a proper irrigation scheme with saline water for cherry tomato in the Minqin oasis, where very severe salinization occurs. The experiment had four treatments including fresh or saline irrigation over the crop season (control, C, T3), fresh/saline-water irrigation change on days after thinning 50 (DAT 50, T1) and saline/fresh irrigation change on DAT 50 (T2). Leaf area index (LAI), photosynthesis rate (P_n), transpiration rate (T_r), leaf dry matter (LDM), stem dry matter (StDM), yield, marketable fruit and total soluble solids (TSS) of tomato were measured. Saline irrigation, irrespective of the timing, significantly decreased maximum LAI, LDM and StDM, P_n, T_r and stomatal conductance but significantly stimulated water use efficiency. The reduction in maximum LAI, LDM and StDM was lower in T2 than in T1 and T3. Harvest index (HI) and TSS were higher in T2 and T3 than in T1 and C. Marketable fruit had no significant change in T2 but significantly declined in T1 and T3. Maximum saturated soil conductivity without yield reduction (the salt tolerance threshold) was 3.69?dS m^?1. Total yield of tomato would decrease by 9.85% with one unit increase of soil salinityhigher than the threshold. Final yield significantly reduced by 24.6% and 23.1% in T1 and T3 treatments, respectively. Our results suggest that irrigation with saline water before DAT 50 and fresh water after DAT 50 should be advocated for cherry tomato plantation in water-scarce areas like the Minqin oasis.     

Water deficit and abscisic acid production of Salicornia bigelovii under salinity stress

We investigated the mechanism of growth reduction of dicotyledonous halophyte Salicornia bigelovii under salinity stress by growing it at 0.005 to 500?mol?m^?3 sodium chloride (NaCl). The optimal range for growth of S. bigelovii was between 50 and 200?mol?m^?3 NaCl. A significant correlation was found between growth and water content, which indicated that water deficit was an important factor in growth reduction at both suboptimal and supraoptimal salinities. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentration of the shoot was negatively related to growth and water content, which suggested that ABA induced by water deficit may inhibit growth at both the suboptimal and supraoptimal salinities. The cause of water deficit at supraoptimal salinity might be caused by nutritional imbalance and osmotic stress due to the low osmotic potential of the external solution. However, limited salt uptake may be one of the causes of water deficit under suboptimal salinity. We discuss a sodium ion (Na⁺) specific deficit rather than salt deficit as another possible cause of water deficit.     

Physiological and growth responses of two different salt-sensitive cucumber cultivars to NaCl stress

Abstract

The effect of NaCl stress on the growth, membrane permeability, anti-oxidant enzyme activities and ion content of cucumber seedlings was investigated. Two cultivars (Jinchun No. 2, a relatively salt-sensitive cultivar, and Zaoduojia, a relatively salt-tolerant cultivar) of cucumber were used. Shoot and root dry weights, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area and leaf number of both cultivars decreased when NaCl concentrations increased. The decreases in shoot and root dry weights and leaf area were more significant in Jinchun No. 2 than in Zaoduojia. Meanwhile, the salt injury index, the membrane permeability, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities of both cultivars increased significantly with salt stress, and the increases in the salt injury index and MDA were higher in Jinchun No. 2 than in Zaoduojia, whereas the increase in POD activity was lower in Jinchun No. 2 than in Zaoduojia. Free proline content of Zaoduojia increased markedly with increasing concentrations of NaCl, whereas the content of Jinchun No. 2 was unaffected by salt stress. In addition, the contents of Na⁺ in the leaf, stem and root of both cultivars increased significantly, whereas the contents of K⁺ decreased significantly, resulting in an increase in the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio when NaCl concentrations increased. These results suggest that Zaoduojia exhibits a better protection mechanism against oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation by maintaining higher proline content and POD activity than the salt-sensitive Jinchun No. 2 cultivar.     

Effect of Enhanced Nickel Levels on Wheat Plant Growth and Physiology under Salt Stress

A pot experiment was conducted to study the response of wheat to concurrent stresses of salinity and nickel (Ni)-toxicity. Soil was spiked with Ni (0, 20 and 40 mg kg^?1) combined with two levels of salinity (control and 10 dS m^?1) using Ni(ii) nitrate hexahydrate (Ni(NO₃)₂.6H₂O) and sodium chloride (NaCl), respectively, in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Plants were harvested at the tailoring stage and the results showed that wheat growth was positively affected by Ni at 20 mg kg^?1, and negatively at 40 mg kg^?1 concentration both in control and at 10 dS m^?1. Ni (20 mg kg^?1) had a nonsignificant positive effect on tissue potassium (K⁺) and a significant negative effect on Na⁺ concentration. Moreover, Ni translocation from root to shoot and accumulation decreased by increasing the levels of Ni in both control and salinity treatments. It can be concluded that Ni at 20 mg kg^?1 increased wheat growth by alleviating salinity stress; however, at 40 mg kg^?1 it aggravated the plant stress and decreased the plant growth.     

Effect of light and water stress on mineral element composition of plants 1

Many factors affect the composition of mineral elements in plants. The effects of many of these factors, such as element concentration, temperature, pH, plant part, plant age, metabolic inhibitors, element interactions, fertilizer, and type of soil, have been studied extensively by many scientists who are concerned with plant mineral nutrition. However, relatively few studies have focused on the effects of light and water stress. The objective of this review was to consider some of the effects that light and water stress have on the mineral element composition of plants.