Physiochemical factors affecting the salt tolerance of Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi

The effects of NaCl-induced stress on physiochemical factors such as inorganic cations, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA) and polyamines were investigated in the gramineous weed, Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi ( E. crus-galli ) and rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). Growth inhibition at the 2nd leaf stage under salt stress was more severe in rice than in E. crus-galli . Water content in the 2nd leaves was also more severely decreased in rice, indicating that E. crus-galli was more salt-tolerant. After NaCl treatment, Na⁺ accumulated in the 2nd leaves of both plant species but not in their roots. Proline accumulation in the 2nd leaves was significantly higher in salt stressed E. crus-galli than in rice, suggesting the significance of proline production in the salt tolerance of this weed. Content of MDA of the rice increased more greatly with NaCl treatment than that in E. crus-galli . NaCl treatment affected polyamine metabolism of both plant species, but the response of each plant to salt stress was somewhat different, especially in the leaves. Leaf putrescine and spermidine contents were high in non-stressed plants in salt-sensitive rice, although rather lower in E. crus-galli in response to NaCl concentrations. These results indicate that an increase in proline and changes in polyamines relates to the salt tolerance of E. crus-galli .