Physiological response and ion accumulation in two grasses, one legume, and one saltbush under soil water and salinity stress

Abstract

A glasshouse–pot trial using four levels of soil moisture (>100%, 90%, 75%, and 60% field capacity) and three levels of salinity (1.0 dSm–1, 3.5 dSm–1, and 6.0 dSm–1) was done to evaluate Na+, K+, and Cl− accumulation capacity and the physiological responses (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, quantum efficiency of PSII, and non‐photochemical quenching) in Melilotus siculus, Tecticornia pergranulata, Cynodon dactylon , and Thinopyrum ponticum. Results reveal that the combined effects of soil water and salinity had a significant effect on Na+ and Cl− accumulation and not on that of K+. Concentrations of Na+ and Cl− and non‐photochemical quenching increased significantly whereas, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration decreased significantly in the tested plants, because of salinity. Salinity had no significant effect on the maximum quantum yield and relative water contents in shoots. Soil moisture had a significant effect on Na+, K+, and Cl− accumulation and the physiological responses in tested plants. T. pregranulata accumulated the highest concentrations of Na+ and Cl− and had the lowest Pn. C. dactylon accumulated the lowest concentrations of Na+ and Cl−, whereas Pn was the highest. No strong positive correlation between Pn and gs was evident in tested plants. We indicate that the reduced physiological performance was because of non‐stomatal activities. Na+ and Cl− accumulation capacity in the tested plants was in the following order: T. pergranulata>M. siculus>T. ponticum>C. dactylon. C. dactylon, a C4 plant, accumulated lower salt ions than the other three C3 plants. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An Ex Situ Salinity Restoration Assessment Using Legume, Saltbush, and Grass in Australian Soil

“…However, TIA occurred in the following order: T. pergranulata > M. siculus > T. ponticum . This result is consistent with our earlier study made at 0–6 dS m −1 salinity level, evaluating the physiology, and salt‐ion accumulation capacity of plants raised ex situ .…”

“…Seeds of M. siculus were obtained from the South‐Australian Research and Development Institute (Adelaide, South Australia). Certified seeds of T. pergranulata and T. ponticum were procured from established commercial outlets . The seeds of M. siculus , T. pergranulata , and T. ponticum were raised in garden soil in seed trays (21 × 18 × 0.2 cm 3 ).…”

“…However, their phytoremediation of salinity has not been evaluated. In a previous field study it could be shown that T. ponticum is a promising salt accumulator and in a simulated study T. pergranulata and M. siculus showed equally promising results .…”

Interactive Short-term Effects of Waterlogging and Salinity Stress on Growth and Carbohydrate, Lipid Peroxidation, and Nutrients in Two Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars

“…The results were consistent with the findings in two seepweed (Suaeda salsa) populations under waterlogged conditions (Song et al, 2011). The increases in Na + and decreases in K + content associated with changes in shoot biomass have been found in many plant species exposed to S or WS (Aini et al, 2012;Barrett-Lennard and Shabala, 2013;Bhuiyan et al, 2015;Horchani et al, 2010;Tang et al, 2013a). It seems that ion regulation played a vital role in the differences in plant growth between the tolerant and sensitive species under saline or saline combined with waterlogging conditions (Jenkins et al, 2010).…”

“…The simultaneous waterlogging and salinization could have more adverse consequences for growth than from waterlogging or salinity alone. Simultaneous waterlogging and salinity stress reduced shoot and root biomass (Aini et al, 2012;Jenkins et al, 2010) and K + content (Barrett-Lennard and Shabala, 2013;Horchani et al, 2010), and increased shoot Na + , Cl -, and proline content in other plant species (Aini et al, 2012;Barrett-Lennard and Shabala, 2013;Bhuiyan et al, 2015;Horchani et al, 2010;Teakle et al, 2006). It is speculated that the mechanisms for waterlogging or salinity tolerance may be beneficial for plants to survive simultaneous waterlogging and salinity stress.…”