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Effects of NaCl on physiology and leaf ultrastructure in the halophyte Kalidium foliatum
Author(s) -
Wang Guoze,
Jia Jin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
nordic journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1756-1051
pISSN - 0107-055X
DOI - 10.1111/njb.00690
Subject(s) - halophyte , chloroplast , biology , salinity , ultrastructure , organelle , botany , chlorophyll , ecophysiology , salt (chemistry) , photosynthesis , biophysics , biochemistry , chemistry , ecology , gene
We studied the effects of salt exposure on the growth and physiology of the xerohalophyte Kalidium foliatum . Plants were grown for 21 days under greenhouse conditions in the presence of between 0 and 500 mM NaCl. Optimum root activity and chlorophyll content were observed at 200 mM and 300 mM NaCl, respectively. Superoxide production increased with increasing NaCl concentration throughout the studied range. These results indicate that moderate salinity has a stimulating effect on the growth of K. foliatum . NaCl also induced leaf ultra‐structural changes. The chloroplasts and cell nuclei all displayed an elliptic shape between 0 and 300 mM NaCl. However, they appeared to be swollen between 400 and 500 mM NaCl. The mitochondria were unaffected by salinity, and all organelles remained intact under NaCl stress. These results provide insights into the mechanism of salt tolerance in K. foliatum .