Nutrient uptake and management under saline conditions in the xerohalophyte: Tecticornia indica (Willd.) subsp. indica.
In the present investigation, we studied uptake and management of the major cations in the xerohalophyte, Tecticornia indica (Willd.) subsp. indica as subjected to salinity. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions at various salinity levels (0, 100, 200 and 400 mM NaCl) over 110 days. At harvest, they were separated into shoots and roots then analyzed for water contents, dry weights (DW), and Na+, K+, Ca²+, and Mg²+ contents. Plants showed a growth optimum at 200 mM NaCl and much better tissue hydration under saline than non-saline conditions. At this salt concentration (200 mM NaCl), shoot Na+ content reached its highest value (7.9 mmol · g-⁻¹ DW). In spite of such stressful conditions, salt-treated plants maintained adequate K+, Ca²+, and Mg²+ status even under severe saline conditions. This was mainly due to their aptitude to selectively acquire these essential cations and efficiently use them for biomass production.
Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Borj Cedria Centre of Biotechnology, Hammam-lif, Tunisia. mokdedrabhi@yahoo.fr
M
M
Rabhi
S
S
Hajji
Najoua
N
Karray-Bouraoui
Deborah
D
Giuntini
Antonella
A
Castagna
A
A
Smaoui
Annamaria
A
Ranieri
C
C
Abdelly
D018533:Biomass; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D029748:Caryophyllaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D002412:Cations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry; D012492:Salts; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D002412:Cations; D012492:Salts; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium