The Effect of Salinity on the Growth of the Halophyte Atriplex Hortensis (Chenopodiaceae)

Abstract

The effect of salt stress on the growth of the Atriplex hortensis was determined by growing plants in soils receiving a one-time irrigation of nutrient solution containing low, medium, and high levels of NaCl. Atriplex plants were grown in sand culture under controlled greenhouse conditions. The experiment was compared to two varieties of A. hortensis. Growth and yield were progressively declined by increasing NaCl concentrations. Atriplex hortensis, an annual halophyte, exhibits significant reduction in height and biomass under saline stress conditions. The photosynthetic activity decreases when plants are grown under saline conditions leading to reduced growth and productivity. Low levels of salinity (5 g/l NaCl) did not cause substantial inhibition of growth but increasing concentrations of salt induced a progressive decline in length and weight of the plants. Salt stress induced a significant decrease in leaf area, but it had no significant effect on leaf water content. The results of present study indicate no differences in salinity tolerance in both Atriplex plants. Another possible conclusion is that improved tolerance to salt stress may be accomplished by decline in growth and photosynthetic activity. Based on these findings the tolerant Atriplex can be grown in moderately NaCl-contaminated soils.

Effect of Chloride and Sulphate Dominated Salinity on Growth and Chlorophyll Content of Senna (Cassia angustifilia Vahl.)

“…Reduction of chlorophyll pigments under salt stress were also reported in sorghum cultivars by Azooz et al, (2004), senna by Arshi et al, (2004), Cantharanthus roseus by Elfeky et al, (2007) and Jaleel et al, (2008), German chamomile by Deepika et al, (2015), tomato by Tantawy et al, (2009) and Atriplex hortensis var. by Kachout et al, (2009) which support the present findings.…”

“…Reductions in various growth attributes with the rise of salt stress were also recorded by many workers in Catharanthus roseus (Jaleel et al, 2008), Atriplex hortensis Var. (Kachout et al, 2009) and Morocco (Belaqziz et al, 2009). Greater toxicity of sulphate relative to chloride on growth has been reported by Deepika (2015) in german chamomile.…”

Growth, biomass production and ions accumulation in Atriplex nummularia Lindl grown under abiotic stress

“…Belkheiri & Mulas (2013) reported increase in leaf area of Atriplex nummularia irrigated with NaCl solution at the EC levels of 0, 10, 30, 40, 60 and 80 dS m -1 , after 10 days of treatment; however, at 20 days, all the plants under EC higher than 30 dS m -1 reduced their leaf area compared with the others. Even halophytes, such as A. nummularia, can suffer deleterious effects due to the intensity of the stress and the exposure time (Kachout et al, 2009).…”

The interactive effects of phosphorus and salt on growth, water potenital and phosphorus uptake in green beans

“…It has been estimated that about more than 50% of the arable land could be salinized by the year 2050 (Jamil et al, 2011). Salt stress prevents the growth and development of the plants due to osmotic and ion stress (Parida and Das, 2005; Kachout et al, 2009). In the root rhizosphere, osmotic stress occurs first with the increasing salt amount (Tuteja, 2007).…”