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LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY EFFECTS ON GROWTH, LEAF ANATOMY AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF DISTICHLIS SPICATA (L.) GREENE
Author(s) -
Kemp Paul R.,
Cunningham Gary L.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1981.tb07794.x
Subject(s) - salinity , photosynthesis , biology , light intensity , botany , horticulture , ecology , physics , optics
The effects of light, temperature, and salinity on growth, net CO 2 exchange and leaf anatomy of Distichlis spicata were investigated in controlled environment chambers. When plants were grown at low light, growth rates were significantly reduced by high substrate salinity or low temperature. However, when plants were grown at high light, growth rates were not significantly affected by temperature or salinity. The capacity for high light to overcome depressed growth at high salinity cannot be explained completely by rates of net photosynthesis, since high salinity caused decreases in net photosynthesis at all environmental conditions. This salinity‐induced decrease in net photosynthesis was caused largely by stomatal closure, although plants grown at low temperature and low light showed significant increases in internal leaf resistance to CO 2 exchange. Increased salinity resulted in generally thicker leaves with lower stomatal density but no significant differences in the ratio of mesophyll cell surface area to leaf area. Salinity and light during growth did not significantly affect rates of dark respiration. The mechanisms by which Distichlis spicata tolerates salt appear to be closely coulpled to the utilization of light energy. Salt‐induced leaf succulence is of questionable importance to gas exchange at high salinity in this C 4 species.