Summary Effect of salt stress on structural changes, ion uptake, rate of photosynthesis and path of carbon in the exotic weed Parthenium hysterophorus have been investigated. Photosynthetic leaf area, chlorophyll and carbon assimilation rates were adversely affected by salt stress. Increased Na+ uptake caused decrease in K+ and Ca2+ absorption. Originally a C3 plant, P. hysterophorus appears to form aspartate as a primary product of photosynthesis when exposed to NaCl. The stimulation of PEP carboxylase activity also occurred due to salt stress. Excessive accumulation of malate during steady state of photosynthesis was possibly due to inhibition of malic enzyme. It appears that although the plant switches over to an ‘aspartate producer’ when exposed to salt, further utilization of photosynthetically assimilated carbon is through malate. Being a weed, the plant appears to be highly adaptive to stress conditions.

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