Physiological and proteomic analysis of salinity tolerance of the halotolerant cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anabaena</Emphasis> sp

The halotolerant cyanobacterium Anabaena sp was grown under NaCl concentration of 0, 170 and 515 mM and physiological and proteomic analysis was performed. At 515 mM NaCl the cyanobacterium showed reduced photosynthetic activities and significant increase in soluble sugar content, proline and SOD activity. On the other hand Anabaena sp grown at 170 mM NaCl showed optimal growth, photosynthetic activities and comparatively low soluble sugar content, proline accumulation and SOD activity. The intracellular Na⁺ content of the cells increased both at 170 and 515 mM NaCl. In contrast, the K⁺ content of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp remained stable in response to growth at identical concentration of NaCl. While cells grown at 170 mM NaCl showed highest intracellular K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, salinity level of 515 mM NaCl resulted in reduced ratio of K⁺/Na⁺. Proteomic analysis revealed 50 salt-responsive proteins in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp under salt treatment compared with control. Ten protein spots were subjected to MALDI-TOF–MS/MS analysis and the identified proteins are involved in photosynthesis, protein folding, cell organization and energy metabolism. Differential expression of proteins related to photosynthesis, energy metabolism was observed in Anabaena sp grown at 170 mM NaCl. At 170 mM NaCl increased expression of photosynthesis related proteins and effective osmotic adjustment through increased antioxidant enzymes and modulation of intracellular ions contributed to better salinity tolerance and optimal growth. On the contrary, increased intracellular Na⁺ content coupled with down regulation of photosynthetic and energy related proteins resulted in reduced growth at 515 mM NaCl. Therefore reduced growth at 515 mM NaCl could be due to accumulation of Na⁺ ions and requirement to maintain higher organic osmolytes and antioxidants which is energy intensive. The results thus show that the basis of salt tolerance is different when the halotolerant cyanobacterium Anabaena sp is grown under low and high salinity levels.     

Effect of sodium chloride-induced stress on growth, proline, glycine betaine accumulation, antioxidative defence and bacoside A content in in vitro regenerated shoots of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell

Growth, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant enzyme defense and the principle medicinal component bacoside A were studied in the in vitro raised shoot cultures of Bacopa monnieri, a known medicinal plant, under different concentrations of NaCl [0.0 (control), 50, 100, 150 or 200 mM]. A sharp increase in Na⁺ content was observed at 50 mM NaCl level and it was about 6.4-fold higher when compared with control. While Na⁺ content increased in the shoots with increasing levels of NaCl in the medium, both K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations decreased. Significant reduction was observed in shoot number per culture; shoot length, fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW) and tissue water content (TWC) when shoots were exposed to increasing NaCl concentrations (50–200 mM) as compared with the control. Decrease in TWC was not significant at higher NaCl level (150 and 200 mM). At 200 mM NaCl, growth of shoots was adversely affected and microshoots died under prolonged stress. Minimum damage to the membrane as assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) content was noticed in the controls in contrast to sharp increase of it in NaCl-stressed shoots. Higher amounts of free proline, glycinebetaine and total soluble sugars (TSS) accumulated in NaCl-stressed shoots indicating that it is a glycinebetaine accumulator. About 2.11-fold higher H₂O₂ content was observed at 50 mM NaCl as compared with control and it reached up to 7.1-folds more at 200 mM NaCl. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase) also increased with a rise in NaCl level. Increase in bacoside A, a triterpene saponin content was observed only up to 100 mM NaCl level. Higher salt concentrations inhibited the accumulation of bacoside A. It appears from the data that accumulation of osmolytes, ions and elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes play an important role in osmotic adjustment in shoot cultures of Bacopa under salt stress.     

Effect of varying NaCl doses on flavonoid production in suspension cells of Ginkgo biloba: relationship to chlorophyll fluorescence,ion homeostasis,antioxidant system and ultrastructure

Ginkgo suspension cells were used to investigate the mechanism that governs the shift between primary and secondary metabolism under NaCl elicitation. The production of three flavonol glycosides, chlorophyll fluorescence, ion content, the antioxidant system, and the cellular ultrastructure in the presence of NaCl doses from 5 to 175 mM were examined. At low salt doses (5–50 mM), cell growth and flavonol glycosides accumulation were stimulated without damaging cell structure or inducing oxidative stress by maintaining high K⁺ and chlorophyll content. At moderate salt doses (75–125 mM), the cells could withstand the salt stress without an impact on survival by changing internal cellular structure, maintaining high levels of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ and increasing anti-oxidative enzyme activities rather than flavonol glycosides to counteract the inhibition of the photosystem II, the accumulation of Na⁺ and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the cells. This allowed cells to divert their metabolism from growth to defense-related pathways and tolerate NaCl stress. At higher salinity (150–175 mM), the cellular structure was damaged, and the high Na⁺ and low K⁺ content led to osmotic stress, and therefore, the stimulation of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) was not enough to cope with high H₂O₂ accumulation. The high production of flavonol glycosides may be a response of elicitation stimulation to serious damage at 175 mM NaCl. In conclusion, the use of 175 mM NaCl may be desirable for the induction of flavonol glycoside production in Ginkgo suspension cells.     

Enhanced tolerance to salinity following cellular acclimation to increasing NaCl levels in Medicago truncatula

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits plant productivity. Plants respond to salinity by switching on a coordinated set of physiological and molecular responses that can result in acclimation. Medicago truncatula is an important model legume species, thus understanding salt stress responses and acclimation in this species is of both fundamental and applied interest. The aim of this work was to test whether acclimation could enhance NaCl tolerance in calli of M. truncatula. A new protocol is described incorporating multi-step up acclimation over 0–350 mM exogenous NaCl. By the end of the experiment, calli were tolerant to 150 mM and competent for embryogenesis at 100 mM NaCl. Positive and negative linear relationships between Na⁺ and K⁺ uptake and exogenous NaCl concentration intercepted at 160 mM suggesting a Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis. Proline level peaked at 100/150 mM whilst highest osmolarity and lowest water content occurred at 250/350 mM NaCl. The concentration of water soluble sugars was positively related to 0–250 mM NaCl whilst callus growth and embryogenesis occurred regardless of endoreduplication. Expression of genes linked to growth (WEE1), in vitro embryogenesis (SERK), salt tolerance (SOS1), proline synthesis (P5CS) and ploidy level (CCS52 and WEE1) peaked at 100/150 mM NaCl. Hence, these genes and various physiological traits except sugar levels, served as useful markers of NaCl tolerance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a multi-step acclimation conferring tolerance to 150 mM NaCl in leaf-derived calli of M. truncatula.     

Effect of salt stress on cucumber: Na+–K+ ratio, osmolyte concentration, phenols and chlorophyll content

A pot experiment with 17 diverse genotypes of cucumber with four levels of salt stress viz., 0, 2, 4 and 6 dS m^?1 was carried out during 2006. ANOVA revealed significant differences amongst genotypes and genotype × salt stress interaction indicating the genetic variability and differential response of the genotypes to different salt stress levels. The salt stress adversely affected the biochemical parameters; effects were severe under 4 dS m^?1. No genotype could survive at 6 dS m^?1. Sodium content, Na⁺–K⁺ ratio, proline, reducing sugars, phenol and yield reduction (%) increased significantly as the salt stress increased. Potassium, chlorophyll, membrane stability index and fruit yield decreased significantly under salt stress in all genotypes. However, the genotypes CRC-8, CHC-2 and G-338 showed lower accumulation of sodium, lesser depletion of potassium, lower Na⁺–K⁺ ratio and higher accumulation of proline, reducing sugars, phenols, better membrane stability and lower yield reduction (%) under salt stress, while CH-20 and DC-1 were sensitive to salt stress. Thus, a combination of traits such as higher membrane stability, lower Na⁺–K⁺ ratio, higher osmotic concentration and selective uptake of useful ions and prevention of over accumulation of toxic ions contribute to salt stress tolerance in cucumber. These traits would be useful selection criteria during salt stress breeding in cucumber.     

The effect of NaCl on proline accumulation in potato seedlings and calli

The effects of salt stress were studied on the accumulation and metabolism of proline and its correlation with Na⁺ and K⁺ content in shoots and callus tissue of four potato cultivars, viz., Agria, Kennebec (relatively salt tolerant), Diamant and Ajax (relatively salt sensitive). Na⁺ and proline contents increased in all cultivars under salt stress. However, K⁺ and protein contents decreased in response to NaCl treatments. The activities of enzymes involved in proline metabolism, Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) increased and decreased, respectively, in response to elevated NaCl concentrations. The changes of P5CS and ProDH activities in more salt sensitive cultivars (Diamant, Ajax) were more than those in the tolerant ones. Then the stimulation of synthesis in combination with a partially increase of protein proteolysis, a decrease in proline utilization and inhibition of oxidation resulted in high proline contents in seedlings and calli under salt stress. In callus tissue, reduced growth and cell size may be partially responsible for high proline accumulation in response to high NaCl levels. However, although the basic proline contents in the seedlings of more salt tolerant cultivars were higher than the sensitive ones, a clear relationship was not generally observed between accumulation of proline and salt tolerance in potato.     

Biochemical characterization of maize (Zea mays L.) for salt tolerance

The inherent differences for salt tolerance in two maize cultivars (Agatti-2002 and Sahiwal-2002) were evaluated in pot experiments. Plants were grown in half-strength of Hoagland nutrient solution added with 0, 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 mM of NaCl. Salt stress markedly reduced the shoot and root lengths and fresh and dry masses. Reduction in growth attributes was more pronounced in cv. Agatti-2002 than cv. Sahiwal-2002. Both maize cultivars exhibited significant perturbations in important biochemical attributes being employed for screening the crops for salt tolerance. Cultivar Sahiwal-2002 was found salt tolerant as compared to cv. Agatti-2002 because it exhibited lower levels of H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA) and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, cultivar Sahiwal-2002 exhibited less salt-induced degradation of photosynthetic pigments, lower levels of toxic Na⁺ and Cl^?  and higher endogenous levels of K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. The results indicate that salt stress induced a marked increase in MDA, H₂O₂, relative membrane permeability, total soluble proteins and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase andascorbate peroxidase). Moreover, increase in endogenous levels of Na⁺ and Cl^?  and decrease in K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and photosynthetic pigments were recorded in plants grown under salinity regimes.     

Influence of inorganic nitrogen sources on K+/Na+ homeostasis and salt tolerance in sorghum plants

This work aimed to study the regulation of K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis and the physiological responses of salt-treated sorghum plants [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown with different inorganic nitrogen (N) sources. Four days after sowing (DAS), the plants were transferred to complete nutrient solutions containing 0.75 mM K⁺ and 5 mM N, supplied as either NO₃ ^? or NH₄ ⁺. Twelve DAS, the plants were subjected to salt stress with 75 mM NaCl, which was applied in two doses of 37.5 mM. The plants were harvested on the third and seventh days after the exposure to NaCl. Under the salt stress conditions, the reduction of K⁺ concentrations in the shoot and roots was higher in the culture with NO₃ ^? than with NH₄ ⁺. However, the more conspicuous effect of N was on the Na⁺ accumulation, which was severely limited in the presence of NH₄ ⁺. This ionic regulation had a positive influence on the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and the selective absorption and transport of K⁺ in the plants grown with NH₄ ⁺. Under control and salt stress conditions, higher accumulation of free amino acids and soluble proteins was promoted in NH₄ ⁺ grown roots than NO₃ ^? grown roots at both harvesting time, whereas higher accumulation of soluble sugars was observed only at 7 days of salt stress exposure. Unlike the NH₄ ⁺ grown plants, the gas exchanges of the NO₃ ^? grown plants were reduced after 7 days of salt stress. These results suggest that external NH₄ ⁺ may limit Na⁺ accumulation in sorghum, which could contribute to improving its physiological and metabolic responses to salt stress.     

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.     

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.     

The physiological response of Artemisia annua L. to salt stress and salicylic acid treatment

Salinity has a great influence on plant growth and distribution. A few existing reports on Artemisia annua L. response to salinity are concentrated on plant growth and artemisinin content; the physiological response and salt damage mitigation are yet to be understood. In this study, the physiological response of varying salt stresses (50, 100, 200, 300, or 400 mM NaCl) on A. annua L. and the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (0.05 or 0.1 mM) at 300-mM salt stress were investigated. Plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, proline, and mineral element level were determined. In general, increasing salt concentration significantly reduced plant growth. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were stimulated by salt treatment to a higher enzyme activity in treated plants than those in untreated plants. Content of proline had a visible range of increment in the salt-treated plants. Distribution of mineral elements was in inconformity: Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ were mainly accumulated in the roots; K⁺ and Mg²⁺ were concentrated in leaves and stems, respectively. Alleviation of growth arrest was observed with exogenous applications of salicylic acid (SA) under salt stress conditions. The activity of SOD and POD was notably enhanced by SA, but the CAT action was suppressed. While exogenous SA had no discernible effect on proline content, it effectively inhibited excessive Na⁺ absorption and promoted Mg²⁺ absorption. Ca²⁺ and K⁺ contents showed a slight reduction when supplemented with SA. Overall, the positive effect of SA towards resistance to the salinity of A. annua will provide some practical basis for A. annua cultivation.     

Effect of salinity on osmotic adjustment,proline accumulation and possible role of ornithine-δ-aminotransferase in proline biosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cakile maritima</Emphasis>

The short time response to salt stress was studied in Cakile maritima. Plants were exposed to different salt concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 400 mM NaCl) and harvested after 4, 24, 72 and 168 h of treatment. Before harvesting plants, tissue hydration, osmotic potential, inorganic and organic solute contents, and ornithine-δ-aminotransferase activity were measured. Plants of C. maritima maintained turgor and tissue hydration at low osmotic potential mainly at 400 mM NaCl. The results showed that, in leaves and stems, Na⁺ content increased significantly after the first 4 h of treatment. However, in roots, the increase of Na⁺ content remained relatively unchanged with increasing salt. The K⁺ content decreased sharply at 200 and 400 mM NaCl with treatment duration. This decrease was more pronounced in roots. The content of proline and amino acids increased with increasing salinity and treatment duration. These results indicated that the accumulation of inorganic and organic compounds was a central adaptive mechanism by which C. maritima maintained intracellular ionic balance under saline conditions. However, their percentage contribution to total osmotic adjustment varies from organ to organ; for example, Na⁺ accumulation mainly contributes in osmotic adjustment of stem tissue (60%). Proline contribution to osmotic adjustment reached 36% in roots. In all organs, proline as well as δ-OAT activity increased with salt concentration and treatment duration. Under normal growth conditions, δ-OAT is mainly involved in the mobilization of nitrogen required for plant growth. However, the highly significant positive correlation between proline and δ-OAT activity under salt-stress conditions suggests that ornithine pathway contributed to proline synthesis.     

Effects of exogenous glucose on seed germination and antioxidant capacity in wheat seedlings under salt stress

Glucose (Glc) is an essential signaling molecule that controls plant development and gene expression, but little is known about its role in salt stress resistance on seed germination and plant growth. Here we report the effects of exogenous Glc on wheat seed germination and seedling growth under salt stress. The treatments used were 0 and 200?mM NaCl solutions supplemented with each of four Glc concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5 and 50 mM. The results showed that salt alone significantly inhibited seeds germination and reduced the growth of wheat seedlings. Addition of exogenous Glc in the salt solution attenuated the salt stress effects in a dose-dependent manner of Glc, as indicated by enhancement of the growth of celoeptile and radicle. Glc addition also showed significant reversal of salt stress in chlorophyll decay, water loss, dry weight, root length and accumulation of proline. The Glc-induced salt stress resistance was associated with enhanced K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in leaves, and activated antioxidant enzymes activities, thus decreasing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. As our knowledge this is the first report to show the protective effects of exogenous Glc against salt-induced oxidative damage in wheat seedlings associating with the evidences of ion homeostasis in cells and a better antioxidant system.     

Induction of salt tolerance in Azolla microphylla Kaulf through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and ion transport

Azolla microphylla plants exposed directly to NaCl (13 dsm^-1) did not survive the salinity treatment beyond a period of one day, whereas plants exposed directly to 4 and 9 dsm^-1 NaCl were able to grow and produce biomass. However, plants pre-exposed to NaCl (2 dsm^-1) for 7 days on subsequent exposure to 13 dsm^-1 NaCl were able to grow and produce biomass although at a slow rate and are hereinafter designated as pre-exposed plants. The pre-exposed and directly exposed plants distinctly differed in their response to salt in terms of lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation, activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, APX, and CAT, and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Efficient modulation of antioxidant enzymes coupled with regulation of ion transport play an important role in the induction of salt tolerance. Results show that it is possible to induce salt adaptation in A. microphylla by pre-exposing them to low concentrations of NaCl.     

Ecosystem changes in Galápagos highlands by the invasive tree Cinchona pubescens

Background and aims

Salinity is an increasing problem for agricultural production worldwide. Understanding how Na⁺ enters plants is important if reducing Na⁺ influx, a key component of the regulation of Na⁺ accumulation in plants and improving salt tolerance of crop plants, is to be achieved. Our previous work indicated that two distinct low-affinity Na⁺ uptake pathways exist in the halophyte Suaeda maritima. Here, we report the external NaCl concentration at which uptake switches from pathway 1 to pathway 2 and the kinetics of the interaction between external K⁺ concentration and Na⁺ uptake and accumulation in S. maritima in order to determine the roles of K⁺ transporters or channels in low-affinity Na⁺ uptake.

Methods

Na⁺ influx, Na⁺ and K⁺ accumulations in S. maritima exposed to various concentrations of NaCl (0–200 mM) were analyzed in the absence and presence of the inhibitors TEA and Ba⁺ (5 mM TEA or 3 mM Ba²⁺) or KCl (0, 10 or 50 mM).

Results

Our earlier proposal was confirmed and extended that there are two distinct low-affinity Na⁺ uptake pathways in S. maritima: pathway 1 might be mediated by a HKT-type transporter under low salinity conditions and pathway 2 by an AKT1-type channel or a KUP/HAK/KT type transporter under high salinity conditions. The external NaCl concentration at which two distinct low-affinity Na⁺ uptake switches from pathway 1 to pathway 2, the ‘turning point’, is between 90 and 95 mM. Over a short period (12 h) of Na⁺ and K⁺ treatments, a low concentration of K⁺ (10 mM) facilitated Na⁺ uptake by S. maritima under high salinity (100–200 mM NaCl), whether or not the plants had been subjected to a longer (3 d) period of K⁺ starvation. The kinetics suggests that low concentration of K⁺ (10 mM) might activate AKT1-type channels or KUP/HAK/KT-type transporters under high salinity (100–200 mM NaCl).

Conclusions

The turning-point of external NaCl concentrations for the two low-affinity Na⁺ uptake pathways in Suaeda maritima is between 90 and 95 mM. A low concentration of K⁺ (10 mM) might activate AKT1 or KUP/HAK/KT and facilitate Na⁺ uptake under high salinity (100–200 mM NaCl). The kinetics of K⁺ on Na⁺ uptake and accumulation in S maritima are also consistent with there being two low-affinity Na⁺ uptake pathways.     

Effects of iso-osmotic NaCl and mannitol on growth, proline content, and antioxidant defense in Mammillaria gracilis Pfeiff. in vitro-grown cultures

Effects of iso-osmotic concentrations of NaCl and mannitol were studied in Mammilaria gracilis (Cactaceae) in both calli and tumors grown in vitro. In both tissues, relative growth rates were reduced under osmotic stress, which were accompanied by a decrease in both tissue water and K⁺ content. However, growth was inhibited to a lesser extent after exposure to NaCl, when accumulation of Na⁺ ions was observed. In calli, only salinity increased proline content, whereas with tumors proline accumulated after both osmotic stresses. Osmotic stresses also induced oxidative damage in both cactus tissues, although higher oxidative injury was caused by mannitol in calli and by salt in tumors. Low iso-osmotic concentrations of NaCl (75 mM) and mannitol (150 mM) increased peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and esterase activities, whereas elevated catalase activity was recorded only after mannitol treatment in both tissues. High osmotic stress generally decreased enzymatic activities. However, in calli, esterase activity increased in response to high salinity, whereas ascorbate peroxidase activity was enhanced after high mannitol stress. In conclusion, both in vitro-grown cactus tissues were found to be sensitive to osmotic stress caused by either mannitol or NaCl, but accumulation of Na⁺ ions in response to salt somewhat contributed to osmotic adjustment. However, more prominent oxidative damage induced by NaCl compared to mannitol in tumor could be related to ion toxicity. The mechanisms that mediate responses to salt- and mannitol-induced osmotic stresses differed and were dependent on tissue type.     

Salt stress responses of a halophytic grass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeluropus lagopoides</Emphasis> and subsequent recovery

To investigate the salt tolerance mechanisms, Aeluropus lagopoides as a halophytic plant was used. Plants were treated with 0, 150, 450, 600, and 750 mM NaCl and harvested at 0, 4, 8, and 10 days after treatment and 1 day and 1 week after recovery. Optimal growth, measured as fresh and dry weights, occurred at 150 mM NaCl, but it was suppressed by 450, 600, and 750 mM NaCl. Recovery significantly increased fresh and dry weights only in 750 mM NaCl-treated plants. Water content was decreased after NaCl treatment and increased after recovery. Na⁺ and proline contents and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased after NaCl treatment and decreased after recovery in all treated plants. In contrast, K⁺ content and ascorbate peroxidase activity decreased after NaCl treatment and increased after recovery in all treated plants. Catalase (CAT) was activated only in 750 mM NaCl-treated plants. Total content of soluble protein was slightly changed after NaCl treatment. It was concluded that proline accumulation for osmotic adjustment, SOD activation for O₂^·− scavenging, and CAT activation at the higher level of salt stress to detoxify produced H₂O₂ were main A. lagopoides strategies under salt stress. A. lagopoides salt tolerance was not based on the restriction of Na⁺ uptake.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dunaliella salina</Emphasis> exopolysaccharides: a promising biostimulant for salt stress tolerance in tomato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis>)

Microalgal exopolysaccharides represent a potential sustainable alternative for the enhancement and protection of agricultural crops including management of both biotic and abiotic stress. In the present study, we investigated the potential of Dunaliella salina exopolysaccharides (PS) to attenuate the effect of salt stress on growth of Solanum lycopersicum, which was grown under different salinity levels (3 and 6 g L^?1 NaCl). The effects of PS treatment on plant growth, osmoprotectant molecules, protein content, and antioxidant enzymes activities of tomato plants under salt stress were analyzed. A metabolomics study showed that the exopolysaccharides released by D. salina contained sulfated moiety along with carbohydrates and uronic acids. The application of sulfated exopolysaccharides on tomato plants alleviated the salt stress and mitigated the decrease in length and dry weight of the plant’s shoot and root systems, as well as that of potassium (K⁺), and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. Furthermore, the increase in proline, phenolic compounds, Na⁺, and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD, SOD) activities caused by salt stress were attenuated after the exopolysaccharide treatment. GC-MS metabolomics analysis showed that PS treatment allowed the activation and/or inhibition of various metabolic pathways involved in the plant’s tolerance to stress such as jasmonic acid-dependent pathways. This study shows the potential of microalgal exopolysaccharides for enhancing tomato tolerance to salt stress and highlights the possibility of their use as plant growth biostimulants under harsh environmental conditions.     

Salt-tolerant reed plants contain lower Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> and higher K<Superscript>+</Superscript> than salt-sensitive reed plants

Reed plants (Phragmites australis Trinius) grow not only in fresh and brackish water areas but also in arid and high salinity regions. Reed plants obtained from a riverside (Utsunomiya) were damaged by 257 mM NaCl, whereas desert plants (Nanpi) were not. When the plants were grown under salt stress, the shoots of the Utsunomiya plants contained high levels of sodium and low levels of potassium, whereas the upper part of the Nanpi plants contained low levels of sodium and high levels of potassium. One month salt stress did not affect potassium contents in either Utsunomiya or Nanpi plants, but it did dramatically increase sodium contents only in the Utsunomiya plants. The ratio of K⁺ to Na⁺ was maintained at a high level in the upper parts of the Nanpi plants, whereas the ratio markedly decreased in the Utsunomiya plants in the presence of NaCl. Accumulation of Na⁺ in the roots and Na⁺ efflux from the roots were greater in the Nanpi plants than in the Utsunomiya plants. These results suggest that the salt tolerance mechanisms of Nanpi reed plants include an improved ability to take up K⁺ to prevent an influx of Na⁺ and an improved ability to exclude Na⁺ from the roots.