An experiment was conducted to study the effect of NaCl (electric conductivity of 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m-1) on growth, gas exchange parameters, water status, membrane injury, chlorophyll stability index and oxidative defense mechanisms in two cultivars (Gola and Umran) of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana). Results showed that the dry mass and leaf area reduced linearly with increasing levels of salinity. Net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (gs) were comparatively lower in Umran which further declined with salinity. Leaf relative water content, chlorophyll (Chl) stability and membrane stability also decreased significantly under salt stress, with higher magnitude in Umran. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) activities were higher in Gola whereas hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and lipid peroxidation (MDA content) were higher in control as well as salttreated plants of Umran. The Na+ content was higher in the roots of Gola and in the leaves of Umran, resulting in high K+/Na+ ratio in Gola leaves. Thus it is suggested that salt tolerance mechanism is more efficiently operative in cultivar Gola owing to better management of growth, physiological attributes, antioxidative defense mechanism, and restricted translocation of Na+ from root to leaves along with larger accumulation of K+ in its leaves., R. Agrawal ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii