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Nitrogen‐15 Uptake by Eggplant Under Sodium Chloride Stress
Author(s) -
Pessarakli M.,
Tucker T. C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1988.03615995005200060031x
Subject(s) - shoot , salinity , nutrient , sodium , hoagland solution , dry matter , nitrogen , osmotic pressure , chemistry , horticulture , solanum , plant nutrition , chloride , salt (chemistry) , botany , biology , ecology , organic chemistry
Plant growth and nutrient uptake are adversely affected under salt stress conditions. This study was conducted to examine the effects of NaCl stress on growth of eggplant ( Solanum melongena L., cv. Syria), and 15 N uptake and distribution in plant shoots and roots. Absorption pattern of 15 N by eggplant from normal (−0.03 MPa osmotic potential) and NaCl salinized (−0.3 and −0.6 MPa osmotic potentials) nutrient solutions was investigated in a growth chamber. The 21‐d‐old seedlings were grown for 7 d in complete Hoagland solution before and 7 d after the completion of salt treatments. This was followed by 3‐d growth in minus N solution with respective salinity levels, and a 90‐d 15 N uptake period after 15 NH 4 15 NO 3 addition to nutrient solutions. Nutrient solutions were sampled at 5‐d intervals for 15 N disappearance from the pots (plant absorbed). Plant tissues were analyzed for distribution of 15 N in shoots and roots. Lowering the osmotic potential of culture solution decreased total N and 15 N uptake by plants at all salinity levels. Increasing salinity decreased dry matter production and water uptake to a greater extent than 15 N absorption. Nitrogen‐15 concentration was substantially higher in shoots and roots of salinized plants as compared with the controls at the 90‐d harvest. Only at the 30‐d harvest was 15 N concentration in shoots significantly higher than in roots at each salinity level. Any level of NaCl in the root medium appears to be detrimental to eggplant growth in terms of dry matter production as well as nitrogen (N and 15 N) and water uptake.