Effect of salt stress on plant growth and physiological parameters of common glasswort (Salicornia europaea) | IJB_INNSPUB
By: Ahmed Mohamed Algharib, Nesrin Örçen, Gholam Reza Nazarian
Salinity is one of the most serious environmental problems influencing crop growth Salicornia spp. is one of the most salt tolerant plants. The salinity-growth response curve for S. europaea was evaluated in a hydroponic study in the growth chamber of the field crops department, faculty of agriculture, Ege University, Turkey through April to September 2014. The main objective was to determine the effects of salt stress on S. europaea. The factors were salinity stress (0,100, 200,300,400 and 500 mM NaCl in the root medium).The experimental design was a factorial experiment in the base of randomized plot design with three replications. The results revealed that S. europaea tolerated salinity up to 500 mM NaCl; however, the optimum growth was at 200mM NaCl in the root medium.
At 100 mM NaCl S. europaea recorded the highest fresh weight per plant (124.33 g/plant). However, at 200 mM NaCl Salicornia showed the highest shoots length (38cm), the tallest root (45cm), and the highest number of lateral branches (61.67). The treatments 100 and 200 mM NaCl recorded the highest stem diameter (2.24mm), and the tallest node (11mm). The superoxidismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, protein and proline (PRO)contents were increased as a result of salinity stress, where 500 mM NaCl recorded the maximum values: 29.21 µ mol min-1 mg-1 protein, 60.61 U mg-1 protein, 0.14%, and 1.27 µmoles/g FW respectively. The catalase (CAT) activity was significantly increased at 200 mM NaCl, but at higher levels of NaCl, i.e., 300, 400 and 500 mM, CAT activity significantly decreased in comparison with control plants. Based on the data obtained, it is clear that the halophytic characteristics of Salicornia europaea plants as evidenced by the positive effect of moderate salinities on plant growth.
Original Source of Articles: Effect of salt stress on plant growth and physiological parameters of common glasswort (Salicornia europaea)
