2003a. Effects of salinity on growth, ionic content and plant-water status of Aeluropus lagopoides

The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) in the external medium upon the growth, plant–water status, and ionic content of Aeluropus lagopoides was studied. Plants grown in non-saline and 200 mM NaCl had the greatest fresh and dry weights. Increasing salinity (400 to 1000 mol m23 NaCl) caused a decrease in fresh and dry weights of plants. The water potential and osmotic potential of shoots became more negative with an increase in salinity, which was associated with an accumulation of Naþ and Cl2 in leaves. Shoot Ca2þ, Mg2þ, and Kþ concentration remained constant in salinity treatments, while Naþ increased in salt treatments and reached greater than 4 mol m23 g21 dry weight