Mitigation of ammonium toxicity by silicon in tomato depends on the ammonium concentration

Ammonium toxicity in hydroponically grown crops can affect tomato development. However, it has been shown that the silicon (Si) attenuates ammonium toxicity in plants depending on the plant species, the stage of development and the ammonium concentration in the nutrient solution. Thus, in order to investigate how Si attenuates stress caused by ammonium in tomato, a study was carried out involving plants cultivated up to 40 days after seed germination using nutrient solutions containing ammonium concentrations (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8?mmol?L^?1), in the absence or presence of Si (1?mmol?L^?1). The accumulation and efficiency of nitrogen and Si use, as well as the concentrations of chlorophyll, carotenoids, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and growth parameters was assessed. At a concentration of 1?mmol?L^?1 ammonium, Si increases the accumulation of nitrogen and Si, the nitrogen use efficiency, the root area and dry biomass of the shoot. At concentrations of 1 and 2?mmol?L^?1 ammonium, Si increases the leaf area and root dry biomass, and in higher concentrations, there was no effect of Si after the supply of ammonium. It was observed that the addition of Si mitigates ammonium toxicity by 1?mmol?L^?1 ammonium, and we can recommend its use in the nutrient solution (Si?=?1?mmol?L^?1) to grow tomato cropsthat employs ammonium concentration of 1?mmol?L^?1.     

Effect of salt stress on Growth and Ion accumulation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield and nutrient contents may be affected under salinity condition. Thus, this experiment was conducted to determine the effect of three salinity levels (60, 120, and 180 mM NaCl) on shoot and root dry weights, and mineral contents of three alfalfa cultivars. With the increasing salinity levels sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) contents increased; but potassium (K), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) contents and root and leaf weights decreased; however, changes in these traits depended on cultivar and salinity level. However, Rehnani, a tolerant cultivar, had the lowest Na and Mg contents and the highest K, N, P, Ca, Zn, and Cu contents and dry weights under all of the salinity levels. Moreover, leaf dry weight and leaf P content had the highest correlation with salt tolerance suggesting that these traits may be used as a marker for selecting salts that are tolerant among genotypes in alfalfa.     

Effects of three commercial rootstocks on mineral nutrition,fruit yield,and quality of salinized tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. cv. Belladona F₁) plants were either self‐rooted, self‐grafted, or grafted onto the commercial rootstocks “Beaufort”, “He‐Man”, and “Resistar” and grown in a recirculating hydroponic system. Three nutrient solutions differing in NaCl‐salinity level (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 dS m^–1, corresponding to 0.3, 22, and 45 mM NaCl) were combined with the five grafting treatments in a two‐factorial (3 × 5) experimental design. At the control NaCl level (0.3 mM), fruit yield was not influenced by any of the grafting treatments. However, at low (22 mM NaCl) and moderate (45 mM NaCl) salinity levels, the nongrafted and the self‐grafted plants gave significantly lower yields than the plants grafted onto He‐Man. The plants grafted onto the other two rootstocks gave higher yields only in comparison with the nongrafted plants, and the differences were significant only at low (Beaufort) or moderate (Resistar) salinity. Yield differences between grafting treatments at low and moderate salinity arose from differences in fruit number per plant, while mean fruit weight was not influenced by grafting or the rootstock. NaCl salinity had no effect on the yield of plants grafted onto He‐Man but restricted the yield in all other grafting treatments due to reduction of the mean fruit weight. With respect to fruit quality, salinity enhanced the titratable acidity, the total soluble solids, and the ascorbic acid concentrations, while grafting and rootstocks had no effect on any quality characteristics. The leaf Na concentrations were significantly lower in plants grafted onto the three commercial rootstocks, while those of Cl were increased by grafting onto He‐Man but not altered by grafting onto Beaufort or Resistar in comparison with self‐grafted or nongrafted plants. Grafting onto the three tested commercial rootstocks significantly reduced the leaf Mg concentrations, resulting in clear Mg‐deficiency symptoms 19 weeks after planting.     

Effect of salt stress on tomato plant and the role of calcium

Abstract

Salinity is one of the serious abiotic stresses that has adverse effects on plant growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on germination and growth parameters of tomato plant as well as the role of Ca²⁺as an ameliorating agent. 100?mM NaCl and two concentrations of calcium (5 and 10?mM) were applied to tomato seeds and seedlings. This study was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a total of six treatments each comprising of three replicates. The application of 100?mM of NaCl delayed the germination time by 27.6%, reduced the seedling length and seedling vigor by 24.33% and germination stress tolerance by 27.6% as compared to control. Salinity also reduced the plant growth (root and shoot length, root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, membrane stability, relative water content and leaf area), whereas the application of calcium mitigated the negative effects of salinity on germination and growth to a greater extent. With increased calcium concentration, growth and germination increased significantly both alone and in the salt-affected plant. 10?mM calcium showed best results and enhanced the promptness index by 20.7%, seedling length and vigor by 15.1% and GSI by 20.7%. It also improved root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, relative water content and leaf area. Similarly, 5?mM calcium also increased plant height and membrane stability index. The present study suggests that application of Ca²⁺ enhanced the growth of tomato plant under saline conditions.     

Correlation of petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen concentration measured by ion selective electrode,leaf tissue nitrogen concentration,and tomato yield in Florida

The effectiveness of measuring petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen concentration (PSNC) using ion selective electrode (ISE) has been scrutinized due to claims that PSNC poorly predicts leaf tissue nitrogen concentration (LTNC) or crop yield. This study evaluated the relationship among PSNC, LTNC, and marketable yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Two tomato trials were conducted using seepage irrigation and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) in fall 2011 and 2012. At 15 days intervals, six most recently mature leaves were collected to measure PSNC and LTNC. PSNC and LTNC declined throughout the growing seasons, but PSNC was affected by weather. PSNC and LTNC were correlated (P = 0.0001, r = 0.38), though not meaningfully. PSNC and LTNC correlated negatively and positively with crop yield in most correlations, respectively. Correlations of CRFs and soluble fertilizers (SFs) separately, did not improve relationships. Measuring LTNC may be a more reliable nutrient management tool compared to PSNC measured using an ISE.     

Effect of ammonium or nitrate nutrition on photosynthesis,growth, and nitrogen assimilation in tomato plants

Nitrogen (N) is taken up by most plant species in the form of nitrate (NO ) or ammonium (NH ). Plant response to continuous NH nutrition is species‐dependent. In this study, we compare the responses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Rio Grande) plants to N source (NO or NH ). To this end, early plant growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll, carbohydrate, and N‐compound concentrations as well as the activities of main enzymes involved in N metabolism (nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate dehydrogenase) were analyzed. Early plant growth was remarkably ameliorated under NH ‐ in comparison to NO ‐based nutrition. Concomitantly, photosynthetic activity, total chlorophyll, and carbohydrate concentrations were significantly increased. With increasing external NH concentration, NH accumulated mainly in roots. In addition, root protein concentration was significantly increased, reflecting high NH incorporation into organic nitrogen. Root glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was enhanced by NH for concentrations below 5 mM, whereas root glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity increased in parallel to NH availability. Together with the positive effect of NH on tomato plant cv. Rio Grande growth, these results reveal that GDH could have, in addition to GS, a possible role in NH detoxification and tolerance of NH ‐based nutrition.     

盐胁迫下蒸腾对冬小麦地上部钠积累的影响

在溶液培养条件下,利用膜不透性荧光染料PTS示踪技术研究了不同冬小麦基因型蒸腾与地上部钠（Na+）积累间的关系。结果表明,蒸腾耗水量与地上部Na+积累的关系因盐胁迫浓度的不同而异。低盐（NaCl,150 mmol/L）胁迫下,蒸腾耗水量对地上部Na+的积累影响不大;高盐（NaCl,250 mmol/L）胁迫下蒸腾耗水量与Na+的积累量呈显著正相关。盐胁迫下,地上部PTS含量与地上部Na+的积累有着极显著的正相关,并随盐浓度的提高和胁迫时间的延长相关性增加。随盐胁迫浓度的提高,所有供试小麦品种的蒸腾耗水量和蒸腾速率下降,Na+积累量、Na+积累速率、胞内Na+浓度和共质体流Na+浓度等上升;随胁迫时间的延长,供试小麦品种的蒸腾耗水量、Na+积累量、胞内Na+浓度上升,共质体流中Na+浓度、Na+的积累速率明显下降。无论盐胁迫与否,NR9405（暖型）和小偃6号（中间偏冷型）的蒸腾耗水量和蒸腾速率均小于陕229（冷型）和RB6（冷型）;蒸腾耗水量大,带走的热量多,是冷型小麦冠层温度低于暖型小麦的主要原因。在高盐环境中,质外体流对Na+的吸收积累具有重要影响,质外体流越大,地上部的Na+吸收积累越多。盐胁迫下高的蒸腾速率导致地上部盐分的快速积累对小麦耐盐是不利的。     

Mitigation of drought stress on three summer crop species using the superabsorbent composite Gelatin-g-p(AA-co-AM)/RH

ABSTRACT

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the capacity of superabsorbent composite (SAP) Gelatin-g-p(AA-co-AM)/RH to improve the performance of rice, maize, and peanut against terminal water stress. For each crop, pots (60 x 40 cm) were divided into two groups, the first comprised 12 SAP-free pots (control) and the second comprised 12 SAP-amended pots (0.5% w/w). After seed sowing, pots received four water regimes (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% field capacity). Pots were watered according to the specified FC once a week along the growing season. Drought caused the significant reduction in growth and yield of tested crops; however, electrolytes leakage, malondialdehyde, free sugars, amino acids, proline, glycinebetaine, phenolics, and flavonoids contents were increased. SAP improved growth and yield by reducing drought deteriorations, compatible osmolytes, and antioxidant molecules. Meanwhile, SAP-induced accumulation of starch and soluble proteins, resulting in better survival, yield, and phytochemical attributes. Generally, SAP could enhance summer crops performance under water stress.     

干旱胁迫条件下加工番茄对喷施甜菜碱的生理响应

以新疆广泛种植的加工番茄屯河8号为材料,通过盆栽和田间试验,测定了加工番茄叶片中叶绿素、可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸、可溶性糖和丙二醛含量以及抗氧化酶 [超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）] 活性和加工番茄产量,研究了干旱胁迫下加工番茄对叶面喷施不同浓度甜菜碱的生理响应。结果表明,干旱胁迫下喷施低浓度甜菜碱对加工番茄抵御干旱有一定的作用。干旱胁迫下喷施甜菜碱后,有效抑制了叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量的下降,协同增加脯氨酸和可溶性糖的含量,抗氧化酶活性也显著增强,膜脂过氧化程度减弱即丙二醛含量下降,田间试验各生理指标的含量变化与盆栽结果相类似,干旱胁迫下喷施甜菜碱促进了加工番茄产量的增加。     

盐胁迫下柚实生苗生长、矿质营养及离子吸收特性研究

以坪山柚为材料,对盐胁迫下实生苗生长、矿质营养及离子吸收特性进行了研究。结果表明,沙培30d,80～200mmol/L盐胁迫,随盐浓度提高,坪山柚实生苗株高、叶面积、地上部干重和根部干重明显降低。溶液培养8d,坪山柚实生苗地上部及根Na+、Cl-含量随盐浓度的增加而增加,根及地上部K+、Ca2+、Mg2+以及P和Mn含量下降,Fe、Zn、Cu含量的变化因器官而异。其中,地上部Fe含量对盐胁迫敏感,可作为柚耐盐性鉴定指标。40mmol/L盐胁迫,坪山柚地上部K+/Na+、Ca2+/Na+、Mg2+/Na+值均显著下降,且Mg2+/Na+值+/Na+值>1;浓度≥160mmol/L盐胁迫,K+/Na+值+吸收、运转效率比Cl-高。     

缺氮胁迫下含Na+叶面肥对花生生长的抑制及补氮后的恢复效应

【目的】叶面肥中的钠离子（Na+）大多为伴随离子,其对作物的影响通常被忽视。实践中,Na+对作物的作用包括促进和抑制两方面,取决于作物营养生理状况。研究Na+对花生的抑制与缺氮（N）胁迫的关系,探索补施氮素对上述抑制作用的恢复效应,可为花生高效合理施肥提供理论依据。【方法】盆栽试验在山东省花生研究所人工气候室内进行,设喷施肥料中含Na+0、2.0、10.0 mg/pot 3个水平,依次记为T0、T1和T2。测定了花生叶片光合作用、茎叶及根干物质累积、根系形态特性和养分吸收,比较了缺氮胁迫（T0、T1、T2）和后期补施尿素态N（T0-N、T1-N、T2-N）条件下Na+对花生影响的差异,并深入分析花生Na吸收与干物质累积和氮（N）、磷（P）、钾（K）养分吸收的相关关系。【结果】1）缺氮胁迫条件下,叶面喷施Na+显著抑制了花生的光合作用,净光合速率由CO₂ 11.4 μM/（m2·s）下降到CO₂ 6.7~7.5 μM/（m2·s）。茎叶和根干重T0（6.4和2.4 g/pot）>T1（5.7和1.9 g/pot）>T2（5.3和1.5 g/pot）。与T0相比,根总长度、总表面积和总体积T1处理下降了7.8%~10.5%,T2处理显著下降了27.5%~31.8%。植株Na与N、K含量呈显著负相关关系（P < 0.05）,花生Na吸收量每增加1.0 mg/pot,植株总的N、K吸收量分别下降26.6和20.9 mg/pot。2）后期补充喷施氮素条件下,施Na+处理花生茎叶干物重比不施Na+处理增加了20.3%~25.8%。补施氮素后,施Na+促进了茎叶对N、P、K的吸收,N的吸收量增加了9.2%~19.2%,P增加了20.0%~42.3%,K增加了21.4%~24.0%。相关性分析表明,花生植株总干物重及P、K含量在补施氮素后与Na含量呈显著正相关关系（P < 0.05）。【结论】Na+对花生生长及养分吸收的影响与氮素营养有关。在缺氮胁迫下,Na+对花生的生长为抑制作用,抑制程度随喷施量增加而加重,高浓度Na+显著抑制根茎叶干物质的累积和N、K养分的吸收。补施氮肥提高了花生植株对Na+的适应性,恢复了光合作用及养分吸收能力,消除了Na胁迫的危害作用,产生“N-Na”协同促进效应。     

Ameliorative effect of selenium on tomato plants grown under salinity stress

The ability of selenium (Se) to counteract salt inhibitory effects in crop plants, especially in tomato, is still poorly documented. In order to examine the impact of Se addition on the growth, some biochemical parameters related to osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense of salt-stressed tomato, a two-factorial experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The plants were supplied with NaCl (0, 25, or 50 mM) and Se (0, 5, or 10 μM), individually or simultaneously. The results showed that salinity had a deleterious impact on plant biomass and physiological parameters studied. The application of Se alleviated this adverse effect by improving the integrity of cell membranes and by increasing leaf relative water content under stress conditions. Moreover, the application of 10 μM Se significantly increased the photosynthetic pigments concentration under salt stress. Salt stress also caused an inhibition of catalase activity, but its activity was restored in the presence of Se. The free radical scavenging activity significantly increased in plants subjected to 25 mM NaCl and supplied with 5 µM Se, compared to NaCl-alone treatment. Both physiological and biochemical results indicate that 10 µM Se treatment can increase plant performance under salt stress, especially under high NaCl concentration.

Abbreviations: CAT: catalase; Chl: chlorophyll; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; DW: dry weight; FW: fresh weight; POD: peroxidase; REL: relative electrolyte leakage; RWC: relative water content; free radical scavenging activity (FRSA); TW: turgid weight     

Comparative growth and physiological responses of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance to salinity and cyclic drought stress

Two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with differential salinity tolerance were compared by evaluating the growth attributes, pigment composition and accumulation of Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe ²⁺, Mn ²⁺ and proline. Wheat cultivars Al-Moiaya (AM) (salt tolerant) and Habbe-Druma (HD) (salt sensitive) were subjected to four levels of salinity (1.21 dS m^?1, 4.4 dS m^?1, 8.8 dS m^?1 and 13.2 dS m^?1) in factorial combinations with three drought stress (FC 30%, FC 60% and FC 90%) treatments in a randomized complete block design. Plant dry weight, leaf area ratio (LAR), soluble protein and total chlorophyll (Chl) content were higher in AM than HD. Salt-tolerant AM maintains a higher K⁺/ Na⁺ ratio and thereby is able to grow better than the salt-sensitive HD under both the stresses. The lower foliar Na⁺ in AM resulted in retention of higher Chl content, reflected in the strong positive correlations between plant ion status and Chl contents (Na⁺-Chl r² = 0.83; Chl- Fe²⁺ r² = 0.76; Zn²⁺ r² = 0.93 and Mn²⁺ r² = 0.88). In conclusion, our results suggested that the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, exclusion of Na⁺ and ion homeostasis play much more important roles in the tolerance to salinity and drought stress than the compatible osmolyte, proline.     

盐胁迫下解盐促生菌对棉花种子发芽过程的影响

棉种经解盐促生菌Rs15-4处理后,播于含0.7％NaCl溶液的珍珠岩基质中培养。在种子萌发的过程中测定了细胞膜透性、游离脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质及可溶性糖的变化。结果表明通过菌株处理后棉花子叶细胞膜透性比对照下降了26.15%;可溶性蛋白质含量高于对照的29.30%;在第7 d脯氨酸含量比对照提高了1.16倍;可溶性糖在发芽的第2 d至第6 d平均高于对照10%左右,以后又趋于稳定。同时,测定了过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD）和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性,结果表明：解盐促生菌处理后的棉花子叶中CAT和POD活性高峰值较对照提前出现;SOD酶活性大大高于对照。经解盐促生菌Rs15-4处理后,发芽率比对照提高了11.8%。     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

采用营养液水培，研究了盐胁迫下外源亚精胺(Spd)对抗盐能力不同的2个黄瓜品种幼苗叶片和根系内活性氧(ROS)水平和抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明，外源Spd降低了50 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下幼苗体内O^-.₂产生速率、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量，提高了抗氧化酶SOD、POD和CAT的活性；与抗盐性较强的“长春密刺”品种相比，Spd处理对抗盐性较弱的“津春二号”品种效果更明显。表明外源Spd处理通过促进盐胁迫下植株体内抗氧化酶活性的提高，降低ROS水平，从而缓解NaCl对黄瓜幼苗的盐伤害。     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

采用营养液水培,研究了盐胁迫下外源亚精胺(Spd)对抗盐能力不同的2个黄瓜品种幼苗叶片和根系内活性氧(ROS)水平和抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明,外源Spd降低了50 mmol/L NaCl胁迫下幼苗体内O-.2产生速率、H2O2和丙二醛(MDA)含量,提高了抗氧化酶SOD、POD和CAT的活性;与抗盐性较强的"长春密刺"品种相比,Spd处理对抗盐性较弱的"津春二号"品种效果更明显.表明外源Spd处理通过促进盐胁迫下植株体内抗氧化酶活性的提高,降低ROS水平,从而缓解NaCl对黄瓜幼苗的盐伤害.     

外源 GSH 对 NaCl 胁迫下番茄幼苗叶片及根系离子微域分布的影响

【目的】盐胁迫是限制新疆番茄生长的重要障碍因子之一,而外源喷施谷胱甘肽 (GSH) 是解决这一问题的有效措施。探讨外源 GSH 缓解番茄盐胁迫的效应和作用机制,可为该措施的有效应用提供理论依据。 【方法】采用营养液栽培法,选用番茄品种‘中蔬四号’为试材。在营养液中加入 NaCl 100 mg/L,使其产生盐胁迫,以不加 NaCl 作为对照 (CK),试验处理包括不喷施 GSH (NaCl)、喷施 GSH (+ GSH)、喷施 GSH 合成酶抑制剂 (+ BSO) 以及喷施 GSH 和 BSO (+ BSO + GSH)。测定番茄幼苗叶片和根系中与耐盐性相关的 K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Na+ 和 Cl– 的离子微域分布状态和平衡。 【结果】NaCl 胁迫下番茄叶片和根系所有组织细胞中 Na+ 和 Cl– 相对含量显著提高,K+ 相对含量和 K+/Na+、Ca2+/Na+、K+/Cl– 比值降低,说明 NaCl 胁迫使细胞中 Na+ 和 Cl– 有害离子积累及胞内离子稳态严重破坏;外源 BSO 施用进一步加剧了 NaCl 胁迫下番茄叶片和根系细胞的 K+/Na+ 失衡。而外源 GSH 施用抑制了 NaCl 胁迫下番茄叶片和根系对 Na+ 的吸收,降低了 Cl– 的相对含量,提高了 K+/Na+、Ca2+/Na+、K+/Cl– 比值。外源 GSH 亦使 NaCl+BSO 胁迫下番茄叶片各组织及根系中皮层、内皮层和中柱的 Na+ 未检出,根系和叶片各组织中 Cl– 相对含量显著降低,K+ 和 Ca2+ 相对含量及 K+/Na+、Ca2+/Na+、K+/Cl–、Ca2+/Cl– 比值显著提高。 【结论】外源 GSH 通过抑制盐胁迫下番茄叶片和根系对 Na+ 的吸收,降低 Cl– 吸收,改善细胞中离子的微域分布和维持离子平衡, 从而缓解了盐胁迫对番茄的毒害作用,提高了番茄的耐盐性。     

Germination and growth response of flax (Linum usitatissimum) to salinity stress by different salt types and concentrations

This investigation was conducted to explore the effects of salt types with different concentrations on germination and growth parameters of flax seeds. The experiment was set out as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. We used six kinds of salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, CaCO₃, Na₂SO₄, Na₂CO₃ and KCl) with concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM. According to the results, the inhibitory effects of the five salt types differed substantially, especially in the case of CaCO₃, Na₂CO₃ and Na₂SO₄. Inhibitory effects of these salts were very strong compared to those of NaCl and CaCl₂. Germination of flax seeds by various salts was in the order of NaCl > CaCl₂ > KCl > Na₂CO₃ > Na₂SO₄ > CaCO₃. The effect of salt concentration was obvious, too. Seeds of flax were able to germinate even in 200 mM NaCl, but they only germinated in distilled water or at very low CaCO₃, Na₂CO₃ and Na₂SO₄ concentrations (50 mM).     

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.