Various physiological characteristics of Cj and C4 plants (14 species) grown along a salinity gradient were studied. The majority of plants occupying salt-marshes were succulent chenopods, mainly C4 annuals. The ash content of assimilating organs of plants was higher and osmotic potential lower in species grown under increasing soil salinity. The plants of the NADP-ME group accumulated more K than Na. Large amounts of Na"^ and CT characterized the NAD-ME plants and perennial C3 plants from sites with high soil salinity, Net photosynthetic rate (P^) and chlorophyll content were decreased in species grown under high salinity. Dark respiration was depressed by salinity to a lesser extent than P^.
To understand the physiology of rice under seawater salinity, potted rice plants were irrigated with different concentrations of Japan seawater (electrical conductivity 0.9, 5.7, 11.5, or 21.5 mS cm-1) from 10 d after transplanting (DAT) to 35 DAT, and from 75 to 100 DAT. Seawater salinity decreased the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, leaf water and osmotic potentials, and relative water content, and increased leaf temperature. The contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and total sugars significantly decreased in the leaves but content of non-reducing sugars decreased only slightly. With increasing salinity the Na+ concentration increased, while Ca2+, Mn2+, and K+ concentrations decreased. Salinity decreased the contents of sugars and proteins, dry mass, and rate of dry mater accumulation in developing grains. and N. Sultana, T. Ikeda, M. A. Kashem.
10-5 M methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) treatment itself did not considerably change the 14CO2 fixation, parameters of room temperature chlorophyll fluorescence induction, proline content, and Na+ as well as Cl- accumulation. Salt stress (30 mM NaCl) lead to a decrease of both 14CO2 fixation and relative water content, and to an increase of proline content. Immediate nonvariable fluorescence (F0) also increased and the variable to maximal fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm) decreased. Pretreatment with JA-Me for 3 d before salt treatment diminished the inhibitory effect of NaCl on the rate of 14CO2 fixation, protein content, and activity and content of ribulose-1,5-bisophosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. The Na+ and Cl- contents in leaves decreased in JA-Me pretreated plants. The JA-Me pretreatment prevented the increase of F0 level and restored the values of Fv/Fm. and M. Velitchkova, I. Fedina.