A pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions with two subspecies of beet, fodderbeet (Beta vulgaris cv. Majoral) and seabeet (Beta maritima), under saline conditions. Growth and physiological parameters (dry weight, leaf area, water relations and net photosynthesis) were recorded. The two subspecies responded differently in terms of growth parameters. Plant growth was significantly reduced at 400 m m NaCl, while no significant growth reduction occurred at 200 m m NaCl. Fairly high values of relative growth rate were associated with the leaf area of the cultivars. The water content of the shoot decreased with plant age. The fodderbeet cultivar Majoral showed a significant increase in dry matter at 200 m m NaCl after 5 weeks. This growth improvement may be related to the better adaptation of the plants under saline conditions.

Wheat being a glycophyte crop, responds differently to saline-sodic soil environmental conditions. The application of calcium is multidimensional with respect to sodium ion and plant part response. This study was conducted to record the response of shoot and root to sodium and calcium interaction under saline environment. Wheat seed of variety Punjab 85 were raised in quartz sand. Later on the seedlings were transplanted to pots containing Hoagland's nutrient solution along with NaCl at 0 mM. and 50 mM. Calcium was applied as CaSO 4 2H 2 O at 3 mM. and 6 mM. Under saline conditions shoot showed positive response to sodium ion in the presence of higher calcium. Relative water contents were higher in the root system at 6 mM of CaSO 4 . 2H 2 O under saline condition. Growth responses to potassium and Magnesium in the presence of sodium induced salinity with calcium ion interaction remained variable.

Growth and ionic relations of fodderbeet (Beta vulgaris) and seabeet (B.maritima) were studied in a greenhouse experiment using garden soil salinized with 200 mM NaCl. Both the species tolerated salinity level of 200 mM NaCl, but seabeet performed better than fodderbeet. Fresh weight of shoot increased significantly (P< 0.01) under higher salt concentration in both the species. Fodderbeet accumulated more biomass under saline conditions than seabeet. Salt treated plants accumulated significantly higher Na + and Cl -content in shoot compared to untreated control plants. Chloride (Cl -) of seabeet root was significantly higher than shoot; however, chloride content of shoot was significantly lower in fodderbeet. The concentration of these ions was comparatively higher in seabeet root than fodderbeet in the later growth period. Potassium K + content was low and revealed antagonistic effect with that of Na + content. Calcium (Ca +2 ) ions were not significantly absorbed by shoot of both species. A significant effect of treatment by the root has been observed in both species. Magnesium (Mg +2 ) content of shoot were increased with the time. Seabeet has absorbed more Mg +2 than fodderbeet. The fodderbeet showed a significant salt tolerance during five week growth period. Seabeet is comparatively more salt tolerant. Domesticated cultivars of fodderbeet like Majoral have considerable adaptability in the inland salt affected areas of Pakistan.

During germination, cultivar Monoval tolerated the salinity as well as higher temperature better as compared to Majoral, Monored and Polygroeningia cultivars of fodderbeet (Beta vulgaris). Whereas, cultivar Majoral had the lowest salinity and temperature tolerance during germination. The number of leaves, leaf length and root girth was not affected in cvs. Monoval and Monored under same soil conditions. Fresh weight of leaves and beet in cv. Majoral increased significantly over control. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in cv. Majoral increased significantly. Total protein of leaf and sugar content of beet were comparatively higher under saline conditions as compared to the non-saline soil.

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