title: NaCl-induced physiological and biochemical adaptative mechanisms in the ornamental Myrtus communis L. plants.
abstract: Physiological and biochemical changes in Myrtus communis L. plants after being subjected to different solutions of NaCl (44, and 88 mM) for up to 30 days (Phase I) and after recovery from the salinity period (Phase II) were studied. Myrtle plants showed salinity tolerance by displaying a series of adaptative mechanisms to cope with salt-stress, including controlled ion homeostasis, the increase in root/shoot ratio, the reduction of water potentials and stomatal conductance to limit water loss. In addition, they displayed different strategies to protect the photosynthetic machinery, including limiting toxic ion accumulation in leaves, increase in chlorophyll content, and changes in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, leaf anatomy and increases in catalase activity. Anatomical modifications in leaves, including a decrease in spongy parenchyma and increased intercellular spaces, allow CO2 diffusion in a situation of reduced stomatal aperture. In spite of all these changes, salinity produced oxidative stress in myrtle plants as monitored by increases in oxidative stress parameter values. The post-recovery period is perceived as a new stress situation, as observed through effects on plant growth and alterations in non-photochemical quenching parameters and lipid peroxidation values.
authors.affiliation: Irrigation Department, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, Murcia, E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Acosta-Motos
authors.affiliation: Fruit Tree Biotechnology Group, Dept. of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Murcia, P.O. Box 164, E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diaz-Vivancos
authors.affiliation: Irrigation Department, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, Murcia, E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Abiotic Stress and Plant Pathology, CEBAS-CSIC, P.O. Box 164, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernández-García
authors.affiliation: Irrigation Department, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, Murcia, E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Blanco
authors.affiliation: Fruit Tree Biotechnology Group, Dept. of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Murcia, P.O. Box 164, E-30100, Spain. Electronic address: jahernan@cebas.csic.es.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D031651:Myrtus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: ASC-GSH cycle; Gas exchange; Leaf anatomy; Oxidative stress; Recovery capacity; Water relations