Sodium chloride stress on organic constituents of Sesuvium portulacastrum L., a salt marsh halophyte

Certain organic constituents, amino acids, protein, proline, glycinebetaine, sugars, and starch in the leaves of Sesuvium portulacastrum, which was grown under varying levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) was determined. Total amino acids lowered at increasing levels of NaCl while the protein content increased moderately up to 600 mM and thereafter increased and decreased, respectively; however, 600 mM level of NaCl significantly differed from the untreated control plants. The concentration of total sugars declined with the increasing levels of exogenous addition of NaCl up to 600 mM. Starch content increased significantly up to 600 mM NaCl and thereafter declined slightly. Proline and glycinebetaine contents were accumulated with the corresponding increase of salinization.