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Two contrasting maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, i.e., Giza 2 (salt tolerant) and Trihybrid 321 (salt sensitive), were grown hydroponically to study NaCl effect (100 mM) on root plasma membrane (PM) lipid and protein alterations. The PM total sterols of Trihybrid 321 were decreased while that of Giza 2 was increased in response to salt. Salt imposition had no significant effect on PM total glycolipids and proteins of both cultivars. The PM total phospholipids were increased in Trihybrid 321 but it did not change significantly in Giza 2 after salinity stress. Molecular percentage of PM phospholipids and fatty acids of both cultivars was different in absence (0 mM) and presence (100 mM) of salt. The most abundant phospholipids in untreated Trihybrid 321 PM were phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS), which changed into PG, PS, phosphatidylinositol (PI) and PC after salt treatment. However, the dominant phospholipids of the control PM of Giza 2 were PC, PE, PS and PG, which changed into PG, PE, PS and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) after salt imposition. Over 60% of the total fatty acids were saturated in control and salinized PM of both cultivars, which was increased after salt stress. The predominant fatty acid in the control and salinized PM of Trihybrid 321 was C18:1 and C17:0, respectively. However, in control and treated PM of Giza 2, the predominant fatty acid was C17:0 and C20:0, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative differences in PM protein patterns were found in both cultivars with and without salt. PM lipid changes enhanced membrane integrity, reflected in different ion accumulation (Mansour et al. 2005), and hence salt tolerance of Giza 2.

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The PM is believed to be one facet of the cellular mechanisms involved in adaptation to saline conditions. Alterations in the PM components in response to salinity are therefore anticipated to contribute to plant salt tolerance. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent findings describing the crucial roles of the PM components in plant acclimation to salt stress. The responses of the PM proteins and lipids to salinity in contrasting species/cultivars were therefore discussed. The relationship between alterations in the lipids and proteins of the PM and tolerance to salt stress is also addressed. Several lines of evidence were presented demonstrating correlation of modifying the PM composition with adaptation of plants to high salinity. Even if contradictory results have been observed, the roles of the PM lipids and proteins appeared to be of great importance for tolerance to high salinity. Despite the promising results, more research should be carried out at the molecular level to further evaluate the roles of some of the PM components in salt tolerance.

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