碱胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根系活性氧代谢和渗透溶质积累的影响

为了探讨牧草对碱胁迫的耐受程度,采用营养液砂培方法,研究了不同浓度NaHCO3（0、50、100、150和200 mmol·L^-1）胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根系生长、活性氧代谢和渗透溶质积累的影响。结果表明：NaHCO3胁迫显著抑制黑麦草幼苗根系的生长,其抑制程度随胁迫浓度提高而增强,黑麦草可耐受的最高NaHCO₃浓度约为150 mmol·L^-1。随着NaHCO₃胁迫浓度的增加,黑麦草根中超氧阴离子(O^-·₂)、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和丙二醛(MDA)含量明显上升,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著下降,过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及抗坏血酸(ASA)含量先升后降。黑麦草根中Na⁺含量随NaHCO₃浓度增大而增加,K⁺含量和K⁺/Na⁺比降低,可溶性糖含量先升后降,脯氨酸含量则先降后升,游离氨基酸含量呈先升后降再升高变化。表明碱胁迫导致的活性氧代谢失调和Na⁺、K⁺失衡及积累有机溶质进行渗透调节时更多能量的消耗可能是黑麦草根系生长受抑的重要因素。     

盐胁迫下构树幼苗各器官中K+、Ca2+、Na+和Cl-含量分布及吸收特征

将当年生构树幼苗置于含有不同浓度（04、1、2、3、4 g·kg^-1）NaCl的土壤中,研究其生物量积累、叶片细胞质膜透性和K⁺、Ca²⁺、Na⁺、Cl^-等离子的吸收、分布及运输,并观察盐害症状.结果表明：构树幼苗的叶片质膜透性随着NaCl浓度的增加和胁迫时间的延长而升高,根冠比随NaCl浓度的升高而增加,大于3 g·kg^-1的土壤盐胁迫对构树叶片的质膜透性及植株的生物量积累影响显著.构树幼苗各器官中Na⁺和Cl^-含量随土壤NaCl浓度升高而显著增加,K⁺和Ca²⁺则随之降低,叶片各离子含量均明显高于根和茎.说明盐胁迫影响根系对K⁺和Ca²⁺的吸收,并抑制了它们向地上部分的选择性运输,使叶和茎的K⁺和Ca²⁺含量下降.构树通过吸收积累Na⁺和Cl^-抵御土壤盐分带来的渗透胁迫,但过量的Na⁺和Cl^-积累会造成单盐毒害.作为抗盐性较高的非盐生植物,构树地上部分的拒盐作用不显著.     

黄瓜幼苗对氯化钠和碳酸氢钠胁迫的生理响应差异

采用营养液培养方法,分别用不同浓度（0、25、50和75 mmol·L^-1）的NaCl和NaHCO₃对黄瓜幼苗进行胁迫处理,研究黄瓜幼苗对NaCl和NaHCO₃胁迫的生理响应差异.结果表明：随着胁迫强度的增加,黄瓜植株地上部和地下部生长量、叶片叶绿素含量和相对含水量均呈明显下降趋势,但NaHCO₃处理下降幅度大于NaCl处理.随着处理浓度的增加,黄瓜地上部Na⁺含量显著上升,K⁺含量显著下降,在相同的Na⁺浓度下,NaHCO₃处理比NaCl处理下降幅度更大,具有更低的K⁺/Na⁺.与NaCl处理相比,NaHCO₃处理的黄瓜叶片电解质渗漏率、丙二醛、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量增加幅度更大.NaCl和NaHCO₃处理使黄瓜叶片超氧化物歧化酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性受到显著诱导,而使过氧化物酶活性受到明显抑制.     

吸收与分配规律的初步研究

选择苗期耐盐性较强的水稻(Oryza sativa)品种（株系）‘AB52’、‘02402’和‘02435’及敏感品种‘日本晴’, 在网室周转箱内,设置5 000和8 000 mg•L^－1 NaCl两种盐处理,以清水为对照, 研究盐胁迫下苗期水稻植株不同部位Na⁺和K⁺的吸收和分配与品种耐盐性的关系。结果表明,盐胁迫下,株高、绿叶干重和绿叶面积下降,绿叶中的水分含量降低,但茎鞘中的水分含量有所上升。5 000 mg•L^－1 NaCl胁迫处理10 d,耐盐品种所受的生长影响和叶片伤害程度低于敏感品种,但8 000 mg•L^－1 NaCl胁迫处理下品种间差异变小。盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收 Na⁺和置换出K⁺,但不同器官部位中Na⁺和K⁺的区域化分布特征明显,各部位的Na⁺含量由低到高依次为绿叶、根、茎鞘和枯叶。下部老叶能优先积累较多Na⁺而枯黄;绿叶吸收Na⁺ 相对较少,维持较低的Na⁺水平,同时保持较高且稳定的K⁺含量;植株茎鞘通过选择性吸收大量Na⁺ 和置换出一部分K⁺到叶片中,保持绿叶较稳定的K⁺含量和相对较低的Na⁺含量,维持较高的K⁺ /Na⁺比,从而使植株少受盐害。敏感品种‘日本晴’在盐胁迫下绿叶中的Na⁺含量相对较高,且 5 000 mg●L^－1 NaCl胁迫下绿叶Na⁺含量已接近高值,与在8 000 mg●L^－1 NaCl胁迫下差异不大, 而耐盐品种绿叶吸收较少的Na⁺。另一方面,耐盐品种茎鞘的含K⁺相对较高,在盐胁迫下能吸收容纳较多的Na⁺,而绿叶中K⁺/Na⁺比较高。可以认为,绿叶的K⁺/Na⁺比可作为一个衡量耐盐性的相对指标。     

短期NaCl胁迫对不同小麦品种幼苗K+吸收和Na+、K+积累的影响

为研究盐胁迫下小麦幼苗生长及Na⁺、K⁺的吸收和积累规律,以中国春、洲元9369和长武134等3种耐盐性不同小麦品种为材料,采用非损伤微测技术检测盐胁迫2 d后的根系K⁺离子流变化,并对植株体内的Na⁺、K⁺含量进行测定。结果表明:短期(2d)盐胁迫对小麦生长有抑制作用,且对根系的抑制大于地上部,耐盐品种下降幅度小于盐敏感品种。盐胁迫下,小麦根际的 K⁺大量外流,盐敏感品种中国春K⁺流速显著高于耐盐品种长武134,最高可达15倍。小麦幼苗地上部分和根系均表现为Na⁺积累增加,K⁺积累减少,Na⁺/K⁺比随盐浓度增加而上升。中国春限Na⁺能力显著低于长武134,Na⁺/K⁺则显著高于长武134。综上所述,盐胁迫下造成小麦组织器官中Na⁺/K⁺比上升的主要原因是根系K⁺大量外流和Na⁺的过量积累,耐盐性不同的小麦品种间差异显著,并认为根系对K⁺的保有能力可能是作物耐盐性评价的一个重要指标。     

氯化钠胁迫对不同品种南瓜幼苗阳离子含量的影响

选择19个不同类型南瓜品种,研究了300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫条件下,幼苗地上部和根系Na⁺、K⁺、Ca²⁺含量、Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、钠-钾和钠-钙运输选择性系数(S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值)的变化.结果表明：NaCl胁迫处理8 d后,不同品种南瓜幼苗Na⁺含量均明显增加,而K⁺含量下降,离子平衡被打破.青栗（Q₁）南瓜幼苗根系Na⁺含量、地上部Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值均明显高于黑蜜南瓜（H₂）和黑籽南瓜（H₃）.不同品种南瓜幼苗体内Na⁺含量、地上部Na⁺/K⁺和Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值变化趋势与NaCI胁迫下不同品种南瓜幼苗盐害指数的结果基本一致,进一步验证了Q₁耐盐性强与NaCl胁迫下地上部Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值较低以及K⁺、Ca²⁺含量较高有关;而H₂和H₃对盐敏感与NaCl胁迫下地上部Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值较高,以及K⁺、Ca²⁺含量较低有关.     

不同生育期水分胁迫对水稻根叶渗透调节物质变化的影响

 干旱是限制水稻(Oryza sativa)作物产量的主要生态因子之一,渗透调节是作物适应干旱逆境的生理机制之一。在人为控制水分的盆栽条件下, 对水稻生长的分蘖期、幼穗分化期、抽穗期、结实期分别进行水分胁迫,研究水稻根系及叶片渗透调节物质的变化规律。结果表明, 不同生育期 干旱胁迫后叶片水势均显著下降,根系和叶片的有机渗透调节物质如可溶性糖、游离氨基酸、脯氨酸和无机渗透调节物质包括K⁺、Mg²⁺等含量 均大幅度上升,而且幼穗分化期和抽穗期这两个对水分胁迫最敏感的时期上升幅度最大,其中又以有机渗透调节物质变化最显著。不同生育期渗 透调节大小的顺序为：抽穗期>幼穗分化期>结实期>分蘖期,反映了不同生育时期渗透调节能力的差异。同时幼穗分化期和抽穗期水分胁迫结束 后再复水后根系和叶片的有机渗透调节物质含量仍长期明显高于对照,而无机离子则变化规律比较复杂,有的升高有的则降低。叶片的渗透调 节能力大于根系,无论是叶片或根系都是K⁺对渗透调节的贡献最大;其次是Ca²⁺, 6 种渗透调节物质含量大小排列顺序为K⁺ > Ca²⁺ >可溶性糖 > Mg²⁺ > 游离氨基酸 > 脯氨酸。     

分布的影响

采用营养液水培,以2个耐盐性不同的黄瓜品种为材料,研究了不同浓度NaCl处理下幼苗植株体内K⁺、Na⁺和Cl^-在器官间的区域化分布及其吸收和运输特性的变化。结果表明：NaCl胁迫下,黄瓜植株体内K⁺含量下降,Na⁺和Cl^-含量升高,变化幅度随NaCl浓度的升高而增大;不同器官间,茎中Na⁺和Cl^-含量最高,上位叶中Na⁺和Cl^-含量最低、K⁺含量下降幅度最小。与耐盐性较弱的“津春2号”相比,耐盐性较强的“长春密刺”根向茎运输的S_K,Na值较高,根系对Na⁺的截留作用较强,茎向上位叶运输的S_{K ,Na}和S_Cl,Na值均较高,叶片中K⁺含量下降幅度较小,K/Na和Cl/Na比值均较高,功能叶中盐分离子尤其是Na+积累较少,植株生物量较高。说明根系对Na⁺的截留能力较强且向上位叶运输Na⁺的选择性较低,是“长春密刺”耐盐性较强的主要原因之一。     

多细胞盐腺离子选择性分泌机理及其成因

为揭示多细胞盐腺对阳离子的选择性分泌机理, 在室内水培条件下, 研究了不同盐分胁迫(NaCl, KCl和NaCl+KCl)对多枝柽柳和短穗柽柳Na⁺, K⁺的分泌和累积, 以及不同盐腺抑制剂(orthovanadate, Ba²⁺, ouabain, tetraethylammonium[TEA]和verapami)对Na⁺和K⁺分泌的抑制及其在体内累积的影响. 结果表明, NaCl处理明显增加了盐腺对Na⁺分泌, 而KCl处理则显著促进K⁺分泌; Na⁺和K⁺的分泌量同累积量的比值表明, Na⁺的比值高于K⁺; 单一盐溶液中添加不同离子成分后, Na⁺和K⁺分泌表现不同: KCl处理中添加NaCl后, K⁺分泌速率显著降低, 但在NaCl处理中添加KCl, Na⁺的分泌则不受影响, 这些结果表明, 柽柳对Na⁺的分泌具有较高的选择性. 此外, 添加盐腺抑制剂后, 柽柳对Na⁺分泌分别受orthovanadate, ouabain, tetraethylammonium[TEA]和verapami的显著抑制, 而K⁺的分泌则分别受ouabain, tetraethylammonium[TEA]和verapami的显著抑制. orthovanadate对Na⁺, K⁺分泌抑制效应的差异, 可能是引起多细胞盐腺分泌Na⁺和K⁺能力不同的主要原因.     

外源NO对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根生长抑制和氧化损伤的缓解效应

研究了外源一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根生长和氧化损伤的影响。结果表明,5~100 μmol·L^-1的NO供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside, SNP)处理显著减轻100mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根生长的抑制效应,其中50 μmol·L^-1的SNP效果最明显,150 μmol·L^-1以上的SNP处理则抑制根的生长。50 μmol·L^-1 SNP处理提高了100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)及液泡膜上H⁺-ATP酶(H⁺-ATPase)和H⁺焦磷酸酶(H⁺-PPase)的活性,使谷胱甘肽(GSH)、抗坏血酸(ASA)和脯氨酸含量及K⁺/Na⁺、(Spd+Spm)/Put比值和根干物质积累量增加,超氧阴离子(O^-₂)、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量降低,而1mmol·L^-1NO清除剂PTIO和1 μmol·L^-1 NaNO₂处理(对照)的效果则不明显。由此推断,NO通过提高根组织的抗氧化和渗透调节能力,促进根系对K⁺的选择性吸收及Put向Spd和Spm的转化,降低Na⁺的吸收并加强在液泡中的区隔化缓解盐胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根生长的抑制和膜脂过氧化损伤。     

披针叶黄华试管苗适应盐胁迫的渗透调节机制

以披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolata)试管苗为材料,通过组培方法研究其在0、0.2%、0.4%、0.6%、0.8%和1.0%NaCl和Na2SO4胁迫30d后的生长、有机渗透调节物质和无机渗透调节物质(Na+、K+和Ca2+)含量的变化,以探讨其耐盐性机制。结果显示:(1)随NaCl和Na2SO4胁迫浓度的增加,披针叶黄华试管苗叶片脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量均显著持续增加,且NaCl胁迫下脯氨酸上升的幅度均大于相同浓度Na2SO4胁迫下的增幅,而可溶性糖上升的幅度却小于相同浓度Na2SO4胁迫下的幅度;可溶性蛋白含量随NaCl浓度的增大呈先升高后降低的趋势,但随Na2SO4浓度的增加呈持续上升的趋势。(2)随NaCl和Na2SO4浓度的增加,披针叶黄华试管苗Na+含量呈增加趋势且各处理均显著高于对照,Ca2+含量和叶片K+含量却呈逐渐减少趋势且各处理均显著低于对照,而根系K+含量呈先降后升的趋势;Na2SO4胁迫下披针叶黄华试管苗叶片Na+含量上升幅度以及K+和Ca2+含量下降幅度均明显低于相同浓度NaCl胁迫组;而Na+/K+和Na+/Ca2+比值随NaCl和Na2SO4浓度增加而升高;NaCl胁迫下,叶片Na+/K+和Na+/Ca2+高于相同浓度Na2SO4胁迫下的比值,而根系Na+/K+和Na+/Ca2+却低于相同浓度Na2SO4胁迫下的比值。研究表明,盐胁迫下,披针叶黄华试管苗通过抑制叶片中Na+积累并增加可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,在根系中维持较高K+和Ca2+含量以及较低水平Na+/K+和Na+/Ca2+比,以降低披针叶黄华细胞渗透势来适应盐渍环境;披针叶黄华对NaCl胁迫的调节能力弱于Na2SO4。     

Isolation and Characterization of Sodium Chloride-Resistant Callus Culture of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek var. radiata

Callus cultures were initiated from seedling root segments ofmungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek var. radiata) cv. K 851on modified PC-L2 basal medium. Growing cells were exposed toincreasing concentrations of NaCl in the medium. A concentrationof 300 mol m^–3 NaCl proved completely inhibitory to growthof the calli. On incubation for 25 d, cells which could toleratethis concentration of NaCl grew to form cell clones. Selectedclones were characterized with regard to their growth behaviour,K⁺, Na⁺ and free proline content when grown under stress aswell as on normal media and were compared with the normal sensitivecallus. The selected callus was capable of growing on mediumcontaining NaCl at the inhibitory concentration. The K⁺ contentof the selected callus was lower in the case of the NaCl mediumthan for the normal medium. However, the selected clones maintainedhigher K⁺ and Na⁺ levels, with increased salinization comparedwith the wild-type cells. Salt-selected cells accumulated higherlevels of free proline under NaCl stress compared to wild-typecells. Under normal conditions, however, the amounts of freeproline in selected and non-selected calli were comparable. Key words: Vigna radiata, callus culture, NaCl stress     

Osmotic adjustment in triticales grown in presence of NaCl

Growth and Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, proteins, sugars and proline concentrations were measured in three triticale genotypes M2A, DF99 and Asseret grown on nutrient solution with or without 75 mM NaCl. In saline conditions, leaf area of the three triticales was reduced by 50 % and dry to fresh mass ratio increased. Total protein concentration was diminished by 10 %. K⁺ concentration decreased whereas Na⁺ and Cl^- accumulated in roots and shoots of salt-stressed plants. This ion accumulation was greater in roots of Asseret than in roots of the other triticales. Soluble sugar concentration increased in M2A and Asseret and decreased in DF99. Proline concentration increased in M2A and DF99 and decreased in Asseret. Osmotic adjustment was essentially realized by Na⁺ and Cl^- uptake. Non-reducing sugars and proline contributed too, but to a lesser extent. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Counteraction of Salinity Stress on Wheat Plants by Grain Soaking in Ascorbic Acid, Thiamin or Sodium Salicylate

The interactive effects of salinity stress (40, 80, 120 and 160 mM NaCl) and ascorbic acid (0.6 mM), thiamin (0.3 mM) or sodium salicylate (0.6 mM) were studied in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The contents of cellulose, lignin of either shoots or roots, pectin of root and soluble sugars of shoots were lowered with the rise of NaCl concentration. On the other hand, the contents of hemicellulose and soluble sugars of roots, starch and soluble proteins of shoots, proline of either shoots or roots, and amino acids of roots were raised. Also, increasing NaCl concentration in the culture media increased Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ accumulation and gradually lowered K⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentration in different organs of wheat plant. Grain soaking in ascorbic acid, thiamin or sodium salicylate could counteract the adverse effects of NaCl salinity on the seedlings of wheat plant by suppression of salt stress induced accumulation of proline.     

Evaluation of salinity tolerance in seedlings of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars using proline, soluble sugars and cation accumulation criteria

Salinity tolerance of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars in terms of growth, proline and soluble sugars concentrations, and Na⁺/K⁺ and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ ratios were analyzed in this study. Three-week-old seedlings of three sugar beet cultivars, ‘Gantang7’, ‘SD13829’, and ‘ST21916’, differing in salinity tolerance, were treated with 0, 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl. Plant shoots and roots were harvested at 7 days after treatment and subjected to analysis. Low concentration of NaCl (50 mM) enhanced fresh and dry weights of shoot and root in ‘Gantang7’, whereas high one (200 mM) reduced growth in all cultivars and the less reduction was observed in ‘ST21916’. Shoot proline was strongly induced by salinity stress in both ‘Gantang7’ and ‘SD13829’, while it remained unchanged in ‘ST21916’. The addition of 50 mM NaCl significantly increased shoot soluble sugars concentrations in ‘Gantang7’ while it had no significant effects in the other two cultivars. ‘Gantang7’ also showed a higher level of root soluble sugars concentration as compared to the other two cultivars. At 50 mM NaCl, the lower shoot Na⁺ concentration, and the higher shoot K⁺ and root Ca²⁺ concentration in ‘Gantang7’ resulted in the lower shoot Na⁺/K⁺ and root Na⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio. However, ‘SD13829’ maintained a lower Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in both shoot and root when subjected to 200 mM NaCl treatment. According to comprehensive evaluation on salinity tolerance, it is clear that ‘Gantang7’ is more tolerant to salinity than the other two cultivars. Therefore, it is suggested that ‘Gantang7’ should be more suitable for cultivating in the arid and semi-arid irrigated regions.     

罗布麻对不同浓度盐胁迫的生理响应

利用网室盆栽实验, 研究不同浓度的NaCl(100–400 mmol·L^–1)胁迫对罗布麻(Apocynum venetum)生长及生理特性 的影响。结果表明, 100 mmol·L^–1NaCl处理显著降低了罗布麻植株的鲜重, 但对其干重影响不大; 随着盐浓度继续增加, 罗布麻鲜重和干重显著下降。在盐胁迫下, 罗布麻叶片内的丙二醛含量、电解质渗漏率、根部和地上部Na⁺的含量明显增加, K⁺的含量随着盐离子浓度的增加而降低。盐胁迫显著降低了地上部Ca²⁺的含量, 而对根部Ca²⁺的含量没有影响。植株K⁺/Na⁺和Ca²⁺/Na⁺比值随着盐胁迫强度的增加而降低。盐胁迫显著促进了罗布麻根部对K⁺和Ca²⁺的选择性吸收及对K⁺的选择性运输。当NaCl浓度小于或等于200 mmol·L^–1时, 随着盐离子浓度的增加, 罗布麻叶片内的脯氨酸和可溶性糖积累显著增加,而当NaCl浓度大于200 mmol·L^–1时, 这2种有机溶质含量显著下降。总体上, 罗布麻通过积累无机离子、合成有机溶质及维持较高的K⁺、Ca²⁺选择性吸收和运输来适应一定浓度(≤200 mmol·L^–1NaCl)的盐胁迫。     

海水胁迫对苦荬菜幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

抗盐耐海水植物的种植是有效利用和开发滩涂资源的措施之一。采用温室砂培方式, 研究了不同稀释配比的海水处理8天对苦荬菜(Lactuca indica)幼苗生物量、根冠比、叶绿素含量、离子含量、可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量的影响。结果表明: 苦荬菜幼苗地上部受海水胁迫较为显著, 而根在海水浓度小于30%时与对照相比没有显著差异; 根冠比随着海水浓度的增加而不断提高; 在10%和20%海水浓度处理下, 叶绿素含量与对照相比差异不显著, 但随着海水浓度的进一步增加,叶绿素含量显著下降; 在10%海水浓度处理下, 苦荬菜地上部分及根部的K⁺含量与对照相比差异不显著, 而海水浓度高于10%时, 随着海水浓度的增加地上部和根部的K⁺含量均逐渐降低; 海水处理下, 苦荬菜体内Na⁺和Cl^–含量逐渐增加; 地上部可溶性糖含量逐渐增加, 而可溶性蛋白含量先升后降。海水胁迫下, 苦荬菜幼苗维持一定的K⁺选择性吸收是其一定程度上盐适应的重要原因。同时, 积累的可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白是苦荬菜幼苗在盐胁迫下的重要渗透调节物质, 可作为其抗盐性的生理参数。     

Growth, proline accumulation and ion content in sodium chloride-stressed callus of date palm

Summary Growth and physiological responses of date palm. Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. Barhee, callus to salinity stress were examined. Callus induced from shoot tips of offshoots was cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with NaCl at concentrations ranging from 0 to 225 mM, in consective increments of 25 mM. Data obtained after 6 wk of exposure to salt have shown a significant increase in callus proliferation in response to 25 mM NaCl the lowest level tested, beyond which callus weight decreased. At 125 mM NaCl and higher, callus growth was nearly completely inhibited. Physiological studies on callus exposed to salt stress have shown an increase in proline accumulation in response to increased salinity. Proline accumulation was correlated to callus growth inhibition. Furthermore, increasing the concentration of NaCl in the culture medium generally resulted in a steady increase in Na⁺ and reduction in K⁺ concentrations. However, at 25 mM NaCl, the only level at which callus growth was significantly enhanced, an increase in K⁺ content was noted, in comparison to the NaCl free control. In response to increasing external NaCl level, the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio increased The Na⁺/K⁺ ratio was positively correlated to proline accumulation and hence callus growth inhibition. This study provides, an understanding of the response of date palm callus to salinity, which is important for future studies aimed at developing strategies for selecting and characterizing somaclonal variants tolerant to salt stress.