This study was conducted to assess whether silicon (Si) supply can alleviate the harmful effects of severe salinity in barley (Hordeum vulgare). Plants were grown on non-saline (0 mM NaCl) or saline (200 mM NaCl) nutrient media supplemented or not with 0.5 mM Si. Salinity impacted plant morphology and induced sodium and chloride accumulation within plant tissues. It significantly affected almost all measured parameters. Interestingly, Si supply alleviated salt stress effects on plant morphology, growth (up to +59%), water status (up to +74%), membrane integrity (up to +35%), pigment contents (up to +121%), and the activity of the two photosystems (PSI and PSII) by improving their yields, and by reducing their energy dissipation. Si beneficial effect was more pronounced on PSI as compared to PSII. As a whole, data inferred from the present study further confirmed that silicon application is an effective approach to cope with salinity.
The effects of salinity (0-400 mM NaCl, marked S0, S100, S200, and S400) on growth, photosynthesis, photosystem 2 (PS2) efficiency, ion relations, and pigment contents were studied in two seashore Cakile maritima ecotypes (Tabarka and Jerba, respectively, sampled from humid and arid bioclimatic areas). Growth of Jerba plants was improved at S100 as compared to S0. Tabarka growth was inhibited by salinity at all NaCl concentrations. Leaf sodium and chloride concentrations increased with medium salinity and were higher in Jerba than in Tabarka plants. Chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (gs), and intracellular CO2 concentration were stimulated at moderate salinity (S100) in Jerba plants and inhibited at higher salt concentrations in both ecotypes: gs was the most reduced parameter. The maximum quantum efficiency of PS2 (Fv/Fm), quantum yield, linear electron transport rate, and efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PS2 reaction centres showed no significant changes with increasing salt concentration in Jerba plant and were decreased in Tabarka subjected to S400. However, the efficiency of dissipation of excess photon energy in the PS2 antenna was maintained in Jerba and was increased in Tabarka plants challenged with S400. Hence the relative salt tolerance of Jerba was associated with a better ability to use Na+ and Cl- for osmotic adjustment, the absence of pigment degradation, and the concomitant PS2 protection from photodamage. and W. Megdiche ... [et al.].