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.