Effect of Salt Stress on Growth and Yield of Plants: A Review

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stressor, severely restricting plant growth and yield. It negatively impacts every stage, from seed germination and seedling development to flowering and fruit formation, consequently lowering both quantity and quality of produce. The reasons for this may be due to the fact that salinity affects photosynthesis enzymes, chlorophyll, carotenoids, changes in water potential, leaf swelling pressure, and others. Accordingly, plants were classified into salt-sensitive (Glycophytes) and salt-tolerant (Haplophytes) this depends on its ability to grow in different salt concentrations. High concentrations of salinity in the soil contribute to reducing the osmotic stress of the soil solution and cause water stress for plants. It also causes toxicity as a result of increased concentrations of some elements, such as sodium, as it is not easily isolated within the vacuoles. Also, the reaction between salt and nutrients causes a nutritional imbalance. Adaptation to salt stress includes many processes, including an increase in ABA content, accumulation of solutes such as amino acids and sugars, protective proteins such as (PRD) disease-related proteins, increased antioxidants, and suppression of energy expenditure pathways. These solutes that accumulate under salt stress may be involved in removing ROS. Non-structural carbohydrates also accumulate, such as (sucrose, hexose, and sugar alcohols). These sugars act in a protective role as they contribute to maintaining the stability of the membrane. One of the important amino acids that increases during salt stress is proline, which plays the role of protecting the integrity of the membrane. Plasma and energy production.