江苏野生大豆的耐盐性和离子在体内的分布及选择性运输

以相对发芽率和出苗率为指标比较了3个野生大豆(Glycine soja)种群的耐盐性,测定了NaCl胁迫下2个耐盐性不同的野生大豆种群(江苏野生大豆,JWS,耐盐;N23232,盐敏感)植株根、茎和叶片中Na^+、K^+和Cl^-含量的变化。结果表明,JWS的耐盐性最强,盐胁迫抑制野生大豆幼苗生长,使其干物质积累量减少,根冠比上升,对耐盐性弱的N23232抑制作用大于耐盐性强的JWS,不同器官离子含量测定结果表明,盐胁迫下野生大豆茎部Na^+含量最高,耐盐的JWS根系具有积累Na^+和Cl^-的能力,叶片Na^+、Cl含量较低,而盐敏感种群N23232根系中：Na^+、Cl^-含量低于耐盐种群JWS,叶片中Na^+、Cl^-含量则高于JWS,JWS根系对K^+、Na^+吸收的选择性(selectivity ratio,SK,Na)和N23232没有明显差异;但叶片和茎运输的SK,Na明显高于N23232,使地上部K^+／Na^+较高,因此认为野生大豆根系对Na^+、Cl^-的积累及K^+向地上部运输的选择性高是其耐盐性强的主要原因。     

盐胁迫对桑树幼苗生长、叶片水分状况和离子分布的影响

以黑龙江省两个桑树品种（秋雨桑和泰来桑）为试验材料,研究了不同盐浓度下桑树幼苗生长、叶片水分关系和不同器官中离子的分布.结果表明：盐胁迫明显降低了桑树幼苗的植株高度和每株干物质量,且对新生叶片干质量的影响大于老叶片.随着盐胁迫的加重,两个品种桑树的叶片水势、渗透势、压力势和相对含水量明显下降,根、茎中Na⁺浓度明显增加,当外界NaCl浓度达到或超过150 mmol·L^-1时,各器官中Na⁺浓度达到饱和.盐胁迫明显降低了两个品种桑树根、茎和叶片中K⁺ 和 Ca²⁺浓度,以及茎和叶片中Mg²⁺浓度,而对根中Mg²⁺浓度影响不大.Na⁺在根、茎和老叶中的区域化分布是两个品种桑树生长过程中表现出耐盐性的机理之一,而盐胁迫使叶片中的Ca²⁺、K⁺和Mg²⁺浓度降低,导致植株体内的离子亏缺,从而限制了植株的生长.     

Phylogenetic relationship of salt tolerance in early Green Revolution CIMMYT wheats

Twenty-five genotypes of early CIMMYT hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were screened for salt tolerance in a glasshouse experiment at 150 mol m⁻³ NaCl in sand culture. The genotypes Na(20)TPP, Penjamo 62, and Inia 66 exceeded all the lines in grain yield per plant under salt stress, whereas Nainari 60 and Norin 10 were the lowest of all genotypes. However, Jaral 66 and Yaqui 54 were the lowest of all the genotypes in all growth and yield attributes. Considerable variation in accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in different plant parts of 25 genotypes of early CIMMYT wheat under salt stress was observed. The genotype Noreste 66 was the lowest in leaf Na⁺ and Cl⁻, and it had highest leaf K/Na ratio and K versus Na selectivity of all the genotypes, but in terms of growth and grain yield, it was moderately tolerant. The other genotype Norin 10 was the highest in leaf Na⁺ and Cl⁻ of all genotypes, but its leaf K/Na ratio and K versus Na selectivity were considerably low. However, in shoot biomass it was the highest and in grain yield the lowest of all genotypes. In view of phylogenetic lineage of the genotypes, most of the genotypes have evolved from Norin 10, so the trait of high uptake of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in most genotypes may have been inherited from Norin 10. The ion exclusion trait in the moderately salt tolerant genotype Noreste 66 was possibly inherited from Yaqui 50 as it was the only among all putative parents which showed low uptake of toxic ions. Overall, owing to the complex nature of the salt tolerance trait being controlled by polygenes, it was not easy to draw relationships between degree of salt tolerance and pattern of uptake of toxic ions and maintenance of leaf K/Na ratios. However, from the phylogenetic lineage of the 25 genotypes it was possible to draw relationships between degree of salt tolerance and mechanism of ion uptake between parents and progeny.     

Alleviation of sodicity stress on rice genotypes by Phosphorus fertilization

Rice seedlings transplanted into sodic soil are exposed to an excess of potentially toxic ions as well as nutritional imbalance, both of which adversely affect their growth and yield. The present study was aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of fertilization with phosphorus and potassium on the plants at varying sodicity levels and also the response of genotypes with known variability in their tolerance to sodicity. In pot-house experiments during two seasons, the alleviating effects of P and K fertilization on three rice genotypes were examined at four sodicity levels. Seedlings of CSR13 and Jaya (both moderately tolerant to sodicity), died by 25–35 days after transplanting in sodic soils of pH 9.7–9.9 where Olsen's P was 12.5 and 14.8 kg/ha, respectively. However, there was no problem of survival or growth in these soils when Olsen's P was 17.6 and 20.8 kg/ha. Depletion in P from 12.0 kg to 10 kg resulted in some mortality of the seedlings even at pH 9.1. Sodicity tolerant genotype CSR10, did show some survival and growth even at pH 9.9 with Olsen's P at 14.8 kg/ha (without P fertilization) which suggests that differences in tolerance to sodicity which exist at genotypic level are not masked by low P. None of the three genotypes showed any survival problem at pH 8.0 and 8.1 with Olsen's P at 8.5 and 8.7 kg/ha, respectively. Seedlings in P fertilized sodic soils not only produced significantly more new roots but also higher root biomass than those in unfertilized sodic soils and these roots seem to have some control on Na uptake as reflected by low Na concentration in the shoots. Thus, P fertilization not only improved P and K status of plants but also reduced the concentration of potentially toxic Na ions in shoots, resulting in better survival, growth and yield. Although fertilization with K alone did improve shoot K content, it had no significant effect on reducing Na. So the mortality of the seedlings or grain yield in K fertilized sodic soils was as good as in control and this could be explained on the basis of lack of any significant difference in Na concentrations in shoots between these two treatments.     

Salinity tolerance of normal-fruited and cherry tomato cultivars

The salinity tolerances (NaCl) of 8 normal-fruited tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and 4 cherry tomato cultivars (L. esculentum var.cerasiforme) were determined by yield-substrate EC response curves, according to the Mass-Hoffman model, modified by van Genuchten and Hoffman (1984). The same model was used to determine the response curves of leaf dry-weight, stem dry-weight, and plant height against substrate EC and also between yield and leaf concentrations of Cl- and Na ions.According to the salinity-threshold (maximum EC-value without yield reduction) and slope (yield decrease per unit EC increase) parameters, determined from the yield-EC response curves, the cherry tomato cultivars were more salt-tolerant than the normal-fruited ones. However, on the basis of vegetative growth characters-EC response curves, cherry tomato cultivars and normal-fruited ones were similarly affected by NaCl.The ranking of the cultivars by their salinity tolerance, determined from the plots of yield vs. leaf concentrations of Cl- and Na ions, was the same as that evaluated from the yield vs. substrate EC plots.     

Effect of soil sodicity on the growth,yield and chemical composition of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.)

Summary A replicated field experiment was conducted to study the effect of exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) on the yield, chemical composition, protein and oil content and uptake of nutrients by groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.) variety M-13. ESP over 15 delayed germination and emergence of flowers. There was continuous decrease in dry matter yield at 30 and 60 days of growth, grain and straw yield after harvest and protein, oil and kernel percent with increase in soil ESP. A 50 per cent reduction in groundnut yield was observed at an ESP of 20. Increasing soil ESP, increased Na and decreased K, Ca and N contents, but had no effect on the Mg, P, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu contents of the plant. Sodium content of the plant increased, while potassium and nitrogen decreased with age of the plant. The uptake of all the nutrients decreased with increase in soil ESP. The results showed that groundnut is a relatively sensitive crop to soil sodicity.     

Responses of some genetically diverse lines of chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.) to salt

The salt tolerance of three tolerant accessions of chick pea, CM 663, 10130 and 10572 and three sensitive accessions 10582, 12908 and 12909 selected at the germination and seedling stage was assessed at the adult stage using sand culture salinized with 0, 40 or 80 mol m^-3 NaCl. The two tolerant accessions, CM 663 and 10572 and one sensitive, 12908 showed consistent correlation between the degrees of salt tolerance at the early growth stages and adult stage as the former two produced significantly higher seed yield compared with the other accessions and the latter did not survive till seed setting in the salt treatments. By contrast 10130 which was found relatively salt tolerant at the two early growth stages could not survive in 40 mol m^-3 NaCl till seed setting. Similarly two sensitive accessions, 10582 and 12909 not only survived at the adult stage but produced some yield as well. On the basis of performance of the six accessions at three different stages, accessions CM 663 and 10572 can be categorised as relatively salt tolerant, 12908 as sensitive and 10130, 10582 and 12909 as moderately tolerant. The tolerant accession CM 663 had high Na⁺ and Cl^- in the leaves but maintained high K:Na ratios and high K⁺ versus Na⁺ selectivity. This accession had relatively low leaf osmotic potential which may be due to its high accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^- in the leaves. By contrast the second tolerant accession 10572 had lowest Na⁺ and moderate Cl^- in the leaves.of all accessions but had highest K⁺ versus Na⁺ selectivity, although its leaf K:Na was intermediate. It had also relatively low osmotic potential which cannot be related to different ions determined in this study. The salt sensitive accession 12908 had high leaf Na⁺ and moderate Cl^- but had very low K:Na ratio (less than one) and K⁺ versus Na⁺ selectivity. The remaining accessions as a whole did not show any consistent pattern of uptake of different ions. The positive correlation between the degree of salt tolerance at different growth stages do exist in some accessions of chick pea examined in the present study, but for others in which no positive correlation was observed suggests that a combination of certain characters can be used as selection criterion for improving salt tolerance in chick pea.     

Phenotypic plasticity of four Chenopodiaceae species with contrasting saline–sodic tolerance in response to increased salinity–sodicity

It is unknown whether phenotypic plasticity in fitness‐related traits is associated with salinity–sodicity tolerance. This study compared growth and allocation phenotypic plasticity in two species with low salinity–sodicity tolerance (Chenopodium acuminatum and C. stenophyllum) and two species with high salinity–sodicity tolerance (Suaeda glauca and S. salsa) in a pot experiment in the Songnen grassland, China. While the species with low tolerance had higher growth and allocation plasticity than the highly tolerant species, the highly tolerant species only adjusted their growth traits and maintained higher fitness (e.g., plant height and total biomass) in response to increased soil salinity–sodicity, with low biomass allocation plasticity. Most plasticity is “apparent” plasticity (ontogenetic change), and only a few traits, for example, plant height:stem diameter ratio and root:shoot biomass ratio, represent “real” plasticity (real change in response to the environment). Our results show that phenotypic plasticity was negatively correlated with saline–sodic tolerance and could be used as an index of species sensitivity to soil salinity–sodicity.     

The cyclic nucleotide-gated channel, AtCNGC10, influences salt tolerance in Arabidopsis

Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs) in the plasma membrane transport K+ and other cations; however, their roles in the response and adaptation of plants to environmental salinity are unclear. Growth, cation contents, salt tolerance and K+ fluxes were assessed in wild-type and two AtCNGC10 antisense lines (A2 and A3) of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Compared with the wild-type, mature plants of both antisense lines had altered K+ and Na+ concentrations in shoots and were more sensitive to salt stress, as assessed by biomass and Chl fluorescence. The shoots of A2 and A3 plants contained higher Na+ concentrations and significantly higher Na+/K+ ratios compared with wild-type, whereas roots contained higher K+ concentrations and lower Na+/K+ ratios. Four-day-old seedlings of both antisense lines exposed to salt stress had smaller Na+/K+ ratios and longer roots than the wild-type. Under sudden salt treatment, the Na+ efflux was higher and the K+ efflux was smaller in the antisense lines, indicating that AtCNGC10 might function as a channel providing Na+ influx and K+ efflux at the root/soil interface. We conclude that the AtCNGC10 channel is involved in Na+ and K+ transport during cation uptake in roots and in long-distance transport, such as phloem loading and/or xylem retrieval. Mature A2 and A3 plants became more salt sensitive than wild-type plants because of impaired photosynthesis induced by a higher Na+ concentration in the leaves.     

Salinity tolerance of 'Valencia' orange trees on rootstocks with contrasting salt tolerance is not improved by moderate shade

The effects of shading in combination with salinity treatments were studied in citrus trees on two rootstocks with contrasting salt tolerance to determine if shading could reduce the negative effects of salinity stress. Well-nourished 2-year-old 'Valencia' orange trees grafted on Cleopatra mandarin (Cleo, relatively salt tolerant) or Carrizo citrange (Carr, relatively salt sensitive), were grown either under a 50% shade cloth or left unshaded in full sunlight. Half the trees received no salinity treatment and half were salinized with 50 mM Cl- during two 9 week salinity periods in the spring and autumn interrupted by an 11 week rainy period. The shade treatment reduced midday leaf temperature and leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit regardless of salinity treatments. In non-salinized trees, shade increased midday CO2 assimilation rate (A(CO2)) and stomatal conductance, but had no effect on leaf transpiration (E(lf)). Shade also increased leaf chlorophyll and photosynthetic water use efficiency (A(CO2)/E(lf)) in leaves on both rootstocks and increased total plant dry weight in Cleo. The salinity treatment reduced leaf growth and leaf gas exchange parameters. Shade decreased Cl- concentrations in leaves of salinized Carr trees, but had no effect on leaf or root Cl- of trees on Cleo. There were no significant differences in leaf gas exchange parameters of shaded and unshaded salinized plants but the growth reduction from salinity stress was actually greater for shaded than for unshaded trees. Shaded trees on both rootstocks had higher leaf Na+ than unshaded trees after the first salinity period, and this shade-induced elevated leaf Na+ persisted after the second salinity period in trees on Carr. Thus, shading did not alleviate the negative effects of salinity on growth and Na+ accumulation.     

Salt tolerance, salt accumulation, and ionic homeostasis in an epidermal bladder-cell-less mutant of the common ice plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

The aerial surfaces of the common or crystalline ice plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L., a halophytic, facultative crassulacean acid metabolism species, are covered with specialized trichome cells called epidermal bladder cells (EBCs). EBCs are thought to serve as a peripheral salinity and/or water storage organ to improve survival under high salinity or water deficit stress conditions. However, the exact contribution of EBCs to salt tolerance in the ice plant remains poorly understood. An M. crystallinum mutant lacking EBCs was isolated from plant collections mutagenized by fast neutron irradiation. Light and electron microscopy revealed that mutant plants lacked EBCs on all surfaces of leaves and stems. Dry weight gain of aerial parts of the mutant was almost half that of wild-type plants after 3 weeks of growth at 400 mM NaCl. The EBC mutant also showed reduced leaf succulence and leaf and stem water contents compared with wild-type plants. Aerial tissues of wild-type plants had approximately 1.5-fold higher Na(+) and Cl(-) content than the mutant grown under 400 mM NaCl for 2 weeks. Na(+) and Cl(-) partitioning into EBCs of wild-type plants resulted in lower concentrations of these ions in photosynthetically active leaf tissues than in leaves of the EBC-less mutant, particularly under conditions of high salt stress. Potassium, nitrate, and phosphate ion content decreased with incorporation of NaCl into tissues in both the wild type and the mutant, but the ratios of Na(+)/K(+) and Cl(-)/NO(3)(-)content were maintained only in the leaf and stem tissues of wild-type plants. The EBC mutant showed significant impairment in plant productivity under salt stress as evaluated by seed pod and seed number and average seed weight. These results clearly show that EBCs contribute to succulence by serving as a water storage reservoir and to salt tolerance by maintaining ion sequestration and homeostasis within photosynthetically active tissues of M. crystallinum.     

Ion allocation in two different salt-tolerant Mediterranean Medicago species

The relationship between Na+, major cation concentrations and salt tolerance under long-term saline conditions of Medicago arborea and Medicago citrina was studied. Plants were grown in solution culture in 1, 50, 100, or 200 mmol/L NaCl for 30 days in a climate-controlled greenhouse. Stem and petiole growth was the most affected by salt in both species. Leaf growth was inhibited in M. arborea, with increased salt, while only the 200 mmol/L NaCl-treated M. citrina plants were significantly affected. Both species had the highest Na+ concentrations in the shoots, however, the allocation pattern was different; M. arborea showed the highest concentrations in the leaf blades, whereas M. citrina distributed the salt into the petioles. K+/Na+ ratio decreased with salt in both species; however, leaf K+ use efficiency (g leaf DW mg-1 leaf K+) was higher in M. citrina. The difference in Na+ allocation and cation concentrations found in these medic species and their importance is discussed in relation to their response to NaCl salinity.     

籼稻桂华占、八桂香花后营养器官干物质流转与籽粒灌浆关系

以桂华占和八桂香2个籼稻品种为材料,研究籼稻花后不同部位器官物质积累、运转与籽粒生长的动态特征及相互关系。结果表明:(1)叶、叶鞘、节间干物质流转存在一定差异,倒2叶鞘对籽粒的贡献超过倒3叶鞘和倒1叶鞘,倒3节间对籽粒的贡献超过倒2节间和倒1节间;(2)不同部位籽粒的灌浆速率和拐点粒重呈现UPG(上部籽粒)MPG(中部籽粒)BPG(下部籽粒)变化趋势,拐点时间和活跃灌浆时间及持续灌浆时间均呈现BPGMPGUPG变化规律,UPG启动早,灌浆速率大,BPG的灌浆速率小,灌浆时间滞后,籽粒粒重呈现UPGMPGBPG;(3)叶片、叶鞘及节间干物质运转速度和运转率都与籽粒起始灌浆势呈正相关,其中器官间与起始灌浆势的相关系数大小表现为节间叶鞘叶片,不同叶位间与起始灌浆势的相关系数大小表现为倒2叶倒3叶倒1叶,其中节间干物质运转对籽粒生长的作用大于叶鞘,叶片干物质运转与籽粒生长的相关性最小。倒1节鞘物质输出与BPG生长时间上同步,倒2节鞘与MPG生长同步,倒3节鞘与UPG生长同步。     

Determination of critical K concentrations in sap from individual leaves or from whole plants using K-interruption experiments

Summary A new method is described for estimating critical K concentrations from K interruption experiments using only 2 treatments. Frequent measurements are made of the growth and K concentration of plants subjected to either continued or interrupted K supply and the data used to define the relation between relative yield and K concentration for the K-deficient plants. Critical concentrations are estimated from the results using a mathematical model of plant growth to interpolate over the critical concentration region of the curve. The method has the advantage that the critical concentrations are determined at the exact time that growth is affected. The method was tested using data from previously published experiments with lettuce in which the concentrations of K were measured in sap from both the total shoot and from individual leaf petioles. The model accurately predicted the form of the relationship between relative yield and K concentration for the total shoot and for young expanding leaves, but consistently deviated from the data for recently matured ones. Average estimates of critical concentration ranged fromca. 18 to 34 mmoll⁻¹ in the young leaves and from 48 to 67 mmoll⁻¹ in the mature ones when Na salts were present or absent respectively. The values for total shoot sap were similar to those for mature leaves. The critical concentrations for young expanding leaves were virtually identical to the minimum believed to be needed for the maintenance of important biochemical processes in individual cells, and suggests that a single critical K concentration for plant sap might apply to a wide range of crops provided an actively growing part of the plant is sampled.     

The K/Na and Ca/Na ratios and rapeseed yield,under soil salinity or sodicity

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is a crop relatively tolerant to salt and sodium. Our objective was to study the interactions between Na, K and Ca and their relationship with its yield under the isolated effects of soil salinity or sodicity.Two experiments were carried out using pots filled with the Ah horizon of a Typic Natraquoll. There were three salinity levels (2.3 dS m^-1; 6.0 dS m^-1 and 10.0 dS m^-1) and three sodicity levels, expressed as sodium adsorption ratios (SAR: 12; 27 and 44). The soil was kept near field capacity.As soil salinity increased, the K/Na and Ca/Na ratios in the tissues decreased markedly but yields and aerial biomass production were not affected. As soil SAR value increased, the K/Na and Ca/Na ratios in plants and K-Na and Ca-Na selectivities decreased. Plants could not maintain their Ca concentration in soil with a high SAR. The grain yield and biomass production diminished significantly in the highest SAR treatment. Our results are consistent with those showing detrimental osmotic effects of salts in Brassica napus. Conversely, under sodicity, the K/Na and Ca/Na ratios in plant tissues decreased considerably, in accordance with grain and biomass production. These results show that the effects of sodicity are different from those of salinity.     

Acetylene reduction in gnotobiotic cultures with rhizosphere bacteria and wheat

Summary In comparison with other crop species, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has been found to be very tolerant of high manganese (Mn) concentrations in nutrient solution. Furthermore, sunflower was able to accumulate high Mn concentrations in plant tops without apparent detrimental effect on growth. The first symptom of excess Mn supply (c. 30M Mn in solution) was the appearance of small, dark-brown to black spots (<0.5 mm in diameter) on lower stems and on petioles and blades of the lower leaves. The spots were not necrotic and were visibly associated with the trichomes on these plant parts. Electron microprobe techniques demonstrated an accumulation of Mn in and around the trichomes. A compartmentation mechanism is suggested whereby sunflower is able to tolerate high Mn concentrations in its tissues through localization of Mn in a metabolically inactive form.At Mn concentrations approximately 6 times higher than that required to produce the small, dark spots, the upper recently-expanded leaves developed a veinal chlorosis and severe leaf crinkling of the interveinal areas. Dark brown lesions (>2 mm in size) developed on the lower leaves, especially along the veins. A concentration of 2205 g Mn g^–1 in the tops was associated with a 10% reduction in plant dry matter yield.     

Nutrient and salt relations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterocarpus officinalis</Emphasis> L. in coastal wetlands of the Caribbean: assessment through leaf and soil analyses

Pterocarpus officinalis L. is a dominant tree of freshwater coastal wetlands in the Caribbean and the Guiana regions. It is frequently associated with mangroves in areas with high rainfall and/or surface run-off. We hypothesized that P. officinalis is a freshwater swamp species that when occurring in association with mangroves occupies low-salinity soil microsites, or alternatively that it possesses mechanisms preventing accumulation of salt in photosynthetic tissues. To test this we compared the mineral composition of soils and leaves of several species in two Pterocarpus forests in Puerto Rico associated with coastal mangroves, Sabana Seca and Punta Viento. Results indicate that (1) Sabana Seca has low soil salinity values even in the P. officinalis and Laguncularia racemosa mixed zone. In Punta Viento, salinity in the mixed zone was higher than in the Pterocarpus forest, but much lower than in the mangrove area; (2) In both forests, leaves of P. officinalis showed much lower Na concentrations than mangrove species. The K/Na ratios were 16–20 times higher in P. officinalis, indicating preferential absorption of K against Na. The mangrove fern (Acrostichum aureum) growing side by side with P. officinalis and L. racemosa in Punta Viento also revealed high Na exclusion capacity. We found an asymmetric distribution of cations in the blade and rachis of the P. officinalis compound leaves in both sites. The rachis accumulates more Na and Ca, but less Mg than the leaf blade. This sequestration of Na in the rachis prevents salt damage of photosynthetic tissue in the leaf blade.     

Investigation of the effects of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza on mineral nutrition and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carthamus tinctorius</Emphasis> under salt stress conditions

Salt stress is considered as one of the most important abiotic factors limiting plant growth and yield in many areas of the world. It has been shown that Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can alleviate this deficiency. The effects of AMF inoculation on growth variables and mineral nutrition of Carthamus tinctorius L. under salt stress condition were studied. Plants were grown in a sterilized, low-P sandy soil with Glomus etunicatum inoculum (10–12 spore/g soil) in a greenhouse. RLC (Root Length Colonized) percent was higher in control plants than treated ones with different salt concentrations. Shoot and root weights, height, the number of leaves, the number of lateral branches, and also leaf area of mycorrhizal (M) plants were higher than nonmycorrhizal (NM) ones in both controlled and salt-treated plants. P, Zn, Fe, Ca, K, Cu, and N contents in M plants were higher than in NM plants in control, low and medium salinity conditions, but Na content was lower in aerial parts of the M plants. The results showed a higher tolerance of inoculated M plants toward salt stress and their better growth.     

Evaluation of breeding strategies for drought tolerance in potato by means of crop growth simulation

Breeding strategies for drought tolerance in potato were evaluated by means of a crop growth model, in which seasonal courses of crop dry matter accumulation and soil moisture availability were simulated in dependence of plant characteristics and weather and soil data.Several plant characteristics substantially influenced the simulated instantaneous water consumption of the genotype. However, effects of genotypic differences on final tuber yield were much smaller because of the close relationship between transpiration and growth. Hence, a lower water consumption not only saved water for later use, but was also at the expense of the actual growth rate. Selection for low-transpiration types, at unchanged water use efficiency, would result in lower yields under optimum conditions.Short periods of drought, in general, reduced tuber yield of late genotypes less than that of early genotypes. Late genotypes had a surplus of leaf area for full light interception giving a lower impact of leaf area reduction. Late drought affected early genotypes less because of escape.The simulation results emphasized the complexity of selection for drought tranrance caused by the many plant processes involved, the contrast between instantaneous and cumulative reactions and the strong genotype × environment interaction for drought tolerance.