The effects of incorporating a hydrogel polymer with sand on development of selected maize (Zea mays, L.) grown under saline conditions has been demonstrated. The seeds of maize was germinated in sand/swollen hydrogel polymer mixture (80:20 v/v) with added Hoagland nutrient solution, then transplanted after 7 days from germination into a range of sand/swollen hydrogel polymer (90:10 v/v) in plastic growbags. Saline solutions containing NaCl, CaCl 2 , mgCl 2 (0.0, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000 ppm.)were applied to the growbags (to field capacity twice per week, alternating with a comparable watering regime. Polymer incorporating with sand reduced the effect of salinity treatments. Maize (Zea mays, L.) adapted to salinity (< 8,000 ppm) was found to have undergone extensive osmotic adjustment by accumulation of organic and inorganic solutes. With the exception of 2,000 ppm, salinity decreased seed germination, plant growth yield production and mitotic division. With salinity treatment the water content tended to increase more in the root with salinity treatment, but succulence was greater in shoot than root. Total pigments (chlorophyll a + b & carotenoids) and photosynthetic activity decreased with salinity treatments. The results indicate that adaptation of maize plant to salinity stress had occurred; may make significant contributions by using hydrogel polymer to improve the soil characters and adapted the maize plant to salinizations.

Callus cultures were initiated from epicotyls of field pea (Pisum sativum, L. cv. Solara). Growing cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of NaCl on modified PC L 2 basal medium. A callus culture were exposed to different concentration of NaCl from 0 -400 mol m . The concentration of 400 mol m -3 NaCl proved completely inhibitory to the growth of calli. After incubation the cell suspensions for 28 days cells which tolerate this concentration of NaCl grew to form cell clones. Selected clones were characterized with regard to their growth behavior, K + , Na + and free proline contents when callus grown under stress as well as on normal media were compared with the normal sensitive callus. Under normal conditions, however, the amounts of free proline in selected and non selected calli were compared. Salt selected cells accumulated higher levels of free proline under NaCl stress compared to wild type cells. The selected callus was capable of growing on medium containing NaCl at the inhibitory concentration. The K + content of the selected callus was lower in the case of the NaCl medium than for the normal medium. However, with increasing salinity concentrations however, the selected clones maintained higher K + and Na + levels, compared with the wild type cells.