Rhodospirillum sodomense,sp. nov., a Dead Sea rhodospirillum species

A new species of halophilic anoxygenic purple bacteria of the genus Rhodospirillum is described. The new organism, isolated from water/sediment of the Dead Sea, was vibrio-shaped and an obligate halophile. Growth was best at 12% NaCl, with only weak growth occurring at 6% or 21% NaCl. Growth occurred at Mg²⁺ concentrations up to 1 M but optimal growth was obtained at 0.05–0.1 M Mg²⁺. Bromide was well tolerated as an alternative anion to chloride. The new organism is an obligate phototroph, growing photoheterotrophically in media containing yeast extract and acetate or a few other organic compounds. Growth of the Dead Sea Rhodospirillum species under optimal culture conditions was slow (minimum t_d 20 h). Cells contained bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series and mass cultures were pink in color. Absorption spectra revealed the presence of a B875 (light-harvesting I) but no B800/B850 (light-harvesting II) photopigment complex. The new organism shares a number of properties with the previously described halophilic phototrophic bacterium Rhodospirillum salinarum and was shown to be related to this phototroph by 16S rRNA sequencing. However, because of its salinity requirements, photosynthetic properties, and isolation from the Dead Sea, the new phototroph is proposed as a new species of the genus Rhodospirillum, R. sodomense.     

Comparative salt tolerance analysis between Arabidopsis thaliana and Thellungiella halophila, with special emphasis on K(+)/Na(+) selectivity and proline accumulation

The eco-physiology of salt tolerance, with an emphasis on K⁺ nutrition and proline accumulation, was investigated in the halophyte Thellungiella halophila and in both wild type and eskimo-1 mutant of the glycophyte Arabidopsis thaliana, which differ in their proline accumulation capacity. Plants cultivated in inert sand were challenged for 3 weeks with up to 500 mM NaCl. Low salinity significantly decreased A. thaliana growth, whereas growth restriction was significant only at salt concentrations equal to or exceeding 300 mM NaCl in T. halophila. Na⁺ content generally increased with the amount of salt added in the culture medium in both species, but T. halophila showed an ability to control Na⁺ accumulation in shoots. The analysis of the relationship between water and Na⁺ contents suggested an apoplastic sodium accumulation in both species; this trait was more pronounced in A. thaliana than in T. halophila. The better NaCl tolerance in the latter was associated with a better K⁺ supply, resulting in higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. It was also noteworthy that, despite highly accumulating proline, the A. thaliana eskimo-1 mutant was the most salt-sensitive species. Taken together, our findings indicate that salt tolerance may be partly linked to the plants’ ability to control Na⁺ influx and to ensure appropriate K⁺ nutrition, but is not linked to proline accumulation.     

Polyol concentrations in Aspergillus repens grown under salt stress

Na⁺, K⁺ and the ratio of Na⁺/K⁺ were higher in cells of the halotolerant Aspergillus repens grown with 2 M NaCl than without NaCl. The osmolytes, proline, glycerol, betaine and glutamate, did not affect the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, nor the polyol content of cells under any conditions. The concentrations of polyols, consisting of glycerol, arabitol, erythritol and mannitol, changed markedly during growth, indicating that they have a crucial role in osmotic adaptation.     

Salt tolerance inNitellopsis obtusa

Summary The mechanism of salt tolerance was studied using isolated internodal cells of the charophyteNitellopsis obtusa grown in fresh water. When 100 mM NaCl was added to artificial pond water (0.1 mM each of NaCl, KC1, CaCl₂), no cell survived for more than one day. Within the first 30 minutes, membrane potential (E_m) depolarized and membrane resistance (R_m) decreased markedly. Simultaneously, cytoplasmic Na⁺ increased and K⁺ decreased greatly. At steady state the increase in Na⁺ content was roughly equal to the decrease in K⁺ content. The Cl^– content of the cytoplasm did not change. These results suggest that Na⁺ enters the cytoplasm by exchange with cytoplasmic K⁺. Both the entry of Na⁺ and the exit of K⁺ are assumed to be passive and the latter being caused by membrane depolarization. Vacuolar K⁺, Na⁺, and Cl^– remained virtually constant, suggesting that rapid influx of Na⁺ from the cytoplasm did not occur.In 100 mM NaCl containing 10 mM CaCl₂, membrane depolarization, membrane resistance decrease and changes in cytoplasmic [Na⁺] and [K⁺] did not occur, and cells survived for many days. When cells treated with 100 mM NaCl were transferred within 1 hour to 100 mM NaCl containing 10 mM CaCl₂, Em decreased, Rm increased, cytoplasmic Na⁺ and K⁺ returned to their initial levels, and cells survived. Two possible mechanisms for the role of Ca²⁺ in salt tolerance inNitellopsis are discussed; one a reduction in plasmalemma permeability to Na⁺ and the other a stimulation of active Na⁺-extrusion.     

Growth and ion relations in response to combined salinity and waterlogging in the perennial forage legumes Lotus corniculatus and Lotus tenuis

Lotus tenuis (Wadst. & Kit.) is a perennial legume widely grown for pasture in the flood-prone and salt affected Pampa region of Argentina. The physiology of salt and waterlogging tolerance in L. tenuis (four cultivars) was evaluated, and compared with Lotus corniculatus (three cultivars); the most widely cultivated Lotus species. Overall, L. tenuis cultivars accumulated less Na⁺ and Cl⁻, and more K⁺ in shoots than L. corniculatus cultivars, when exposed to 200 mM NaCl for 28 days in aerated or in stagnant solutions. Root porosity was higher in L. tenuis cultivars due to greater aerenchyma formation. In a NaCl dose–response experiment (0–400 mM NaCl in aerated solution), L. tenuis (cv. Chaja) accumulated half as much Cl⁻ in its shoots than L. corniculatus (cv. San Gabriel) at all external NaCl concentrations, and about 30% less shoot Na⁺ in treatments above 250 mM NaCl. Ion distributions in shoots were determined for plants at 200 mM NaCl. L. tenuis (cv. Chaja) again accumulated about half as much Cl⁻ in old leaves, young leaves and stems, compared with concentrations in L. corniculatus (cv. San Gabriel). There were not, however, significant differences between the two species for Na⁺ concentrations in the various shoot tissues. The higher root porosity, and maintenance of lower shoot Cl⁻ and Na⁺ concentrations in L. tenuis, compared with L. corniculatus, contributes to the greater tolerance to combined salt and waterlogging stress in L. tenuis. Moreover, significant variation for tolerance to combined salinity and waterlogging stress was identified within both L. tenuis and L. corniculatus.     

NaCl胁迫对圆柏幼苗生长和离子吸收及分配的影响

以当年生圆柏幼苗为实验材料,采用温室调控盆栽土培法研究了不同浓度NaCl(0、100、200、300mmol·L-1)胁迫21d对其生长情况及不同器官(根、茎、叶)中K~+、Na~+、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)的吸收和分配的影响,以探讨圆柏幼苗对盐环境的生长适应性及耐盐机制。结果表明:(1)随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,圆柏幼苗生长,包括株高、地径、相对生长量以及生物量的积累均呈下降趋势,而其根冠比却增加。(2)在各浓度NaCl胁迫处理下,圆柏幼苗根、茎、叶中Na~+含量较对照均显著增加,而且叶中Na~+含量显著高于茎和根,叶中Na~+含量是根中的5倍。(3)随着NaCl胁迫浓度的升高,圆柏幼苗各器官中K~+、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)含量以及K~+/Na~+、Ca~(2+)/Na~+及Mg~(2+)/Na~+比值均呈下降趋势。(4)在NaCl胁迫条件下,圆柏幼苗根系离子吸收选择性系数SK,Na、SCa,Na、SMg,Na显著提高,茎、叶离子转运选择性系数SCa,Na、SMg,Na则逐渐降低,叶中离子转运选择性系数SK,Na则随着NaCl胁迫浓度的升高显著降低,大量Na~+进入地上部,减缓了盐胁迫对根系的伤害。研究认为,圆柏幼苗的盐适应机制主要是通过根系的补偿生长效应及茎、叶对Na~+的聚积作用来实现的,同时也与根对K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)的选择性运输能力增强和茎、叶稳定的K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)的选择性运输能力有关。     

Sodium,potassium, chloride and proline concentrations of chloroplasts isolated from a halophyte,Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Concentrations of four major solutes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, proline) were determined in isolated, intact chloroplasts from the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. following long-term exposure of plants to three levels of NaCl salinity in the rooting medium. Chloroplasts were obtained by gentle rupture of leaf protoplasts. There was either no or only small leakage of inorganic ions from the chloroplasts to the medium during three rapidly performed washing steps involving precipitation and re-suspension of chloroplast pellets. Increasing NaCl salinity of the rooting medium resulted in a rise of Na⁺ und Cl^- in the total leaf sap, up to approximately 500 and 400 mM, respectively, for plants grown at 400 mM NaCl. However, chloroplast levels of Na⁺ und Cl^- did not exceed 160–230 and 40–60 mM, respectively, based upon a chloroplast osmotic volume of 20–30 l per mg chlorophyll. At 20 mM NaCl in the rooting medium, the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio of the chloroplasts was about 1; at 400 mM NaCl the ratio was about 5. Growth at 400 mM NaCl led to markedly increased concentrations of proline in the leaf sap (8 mM) compared with the leaf sap of plants grown in culture solution without added NaCl (proline 0.25 mM). Although proline was fivefold more concentrated in the chloroplasts than in the total leaf sap of plants treated with 400 mM NaCl, the overall contribution of proline to the osmotic adjustment of chloroplasts was small. The capacity to limit chloroplast Cl^- concentrations under conditions of high external salinity was in contrast to an apparent affinity of chloroplasts for Cl^- under conditions of low Cl^- availability.Abbreviation Chl chlorophyll     

Comparison of the effects of NaCl and KCl at the roots on seedling growth,cell death and the size,frequency and secretion rate of salt glands in leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Limonium sinense</Emphasis>

Twenty days’ exposure to 50 or 100 mM NaCl in the rooting medium substantially increased fresh and dry weights of seedling shoots of the recretohalophyte Limonium sinense while 200 or 300 mM were increasingly inhibitory. KCl treatment was only slightly stimulating (50 mM) or strongly inhibitory (100–300 mM). Lesser effects on leaf area were also seen. Diameter of foliar salt glands was significantly larger than that of controls in 100 and 200 mM NaCl with the effect being reversed at higher concentrations. Gland enlargement was also observed in the presence of 100 mM KCl, while larger concentrations reduced gland size. Generally, gland diameter was larger in the presence of NaCl than in KCl. NaCl and KCl also increased gland number per leaf and secretion rate per gland. At 100 and 200 mM NaCl or KCl, Na⁺ secretion per leaf from NaCl-treated plants exceeded K⁺ secretion rate from KCl-treated plants while at 200 mM, Na⁺ secretion per gland was significantly higher for Na⁺ than for K⁺. Evidence of cell death in leaves of salt-treated plants using Evans blue staining indicates that release of cell contents through loss of membrane integrity contributed to the secretion values. We conclude that the greater tolerance of L. sinenseto to NaCl compared to KCl is linked to the more effective secretion of Na⁺ than of K⁺ and, in turn, to a greater stimulation of salt gland formation and activity and larger gland diameter.     

Effects of NaCl and mannitol induced stress on sugarcane (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharum</Emphasis> sp.) callus cultures

The effects of NaCl and mannitol iso-osmotic stresses on calli issued from sugarcane cultivars (cvs.) R570, CP59-73 and NCo310 were investigated in relation to callus growth, water content, ion and proline concentrations. Callus growth and water content decreased under both stresses with the highest reduction under mannitol-induced osmotic stress. The ion concentration was drastically affected after exposure to NaCl and mannitol. Salt stress induced an increase in Na⁺ and Cl⁻ accumulation and a decrease in K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations. Under mannitol-induced osmotic stress, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations decreased significantly while Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations remained unchanged. Free proline accumulation occurred under both stresses and was more marked in stress-sensitive cv. than in stress-resistant one. Our results indicated that the physiological mechanisms operating at the plant cell level in response to salt- and osmotic-induced stress in sugarcane cvs. are different. Among the cvs., we concluded that the stress resistance is closely related to the maintain of an adequate water status and a high level of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ under both stresses and a low level of Na⁺ concentration in the presence of NaCl. Thus, sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) can be regarded as a Na⁺ excluder. We also provided evidence that proline accumulation is a stress-sensitive trait rather than a stress resistance marker.     

Comparative analysis of trehalose production by Debaryomyces hansenii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae under saline stress

The comparative analysis of growth, intracellular content of Na⁺ and K⁺, and the production of trehalose in the halophilic Debaryomyces hansenii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were determined under saline stress. The yeast species were studied based on their ability to grow in the absence or presence of 0.6 or 1.0 M NaCl and KCl. D. hansenii strains grew better and accumulated more Na⁺ than S. cerevisiae under saline stress (0.6 and 1.0 M of NaCl), compared to S. cerevisiae strains under similar conditions. By two methods, we found that D. hansenii showed a higher production of trehalose, compared to S. cerevisiae; S. cerevisiae active dry yeast contained more trehalose than a regular commercial strain (S. cerevisiae La Azteca) under all conditions, except when the cells were grown in the presence of 1.0 M NaCl. In our experiments, it was found that D. hansenii accumulates more glycerol than trehalose under saline stress (2.0 and 3.0 M salts). However, under moderate NaCl stress, the cells accumulated more trehalose than glycerol. We suggest that the elevated production of trehalose in D. hansenii plays a role as reserve carbohydrate, as reported for other microorganisms.     

Effects of NaCl salinity on growth, morphology, photosynthesis and proline accumulation of Salvinia natans

The effects of NaCl salinity on growth, morphology and photosynthesis of Salvinia natans (L.) All. were investigated by growing plants in a growth chamber at NaCl concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM. The relative growth rates were high (ca. 0.3 d⁻¹) at salinities up to 50 mM and decreased to less than 0.2 d⁻¹ at higher salinities, but plants produced smaller and thicker leaves and had shorter stems and roots, probably imposed by the osmotic stress and lowered turgor pressure restricting cell expansion. Na⁺ concentrations in the plant tissue only increased three-fold, but uptake of K⁺ was reduced, resulting in very high Na⁺/K⁺ ratios at high salinities, indicating that S. natans lacks mechanisms to maintain ionic homeostasis in the cells. The contents of proline in the plant tissue increased at high salinity, but concentrations were very low (<0.1 μmol g⁻¹ FW), indicating a limited capacity of S. natans to synthesize proline as a compatible compound. The potential photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m) of S. natans remained unchanged at 50 mM NaCl but was reduced at higher salinities, and the photosynthetic capacity (ETR_max) was significantly reduced at 50 mM NaCl and higher. It is concluded that S. natans is a salt-sensitive species lacking physiological measures to cope with exposure to high NaCl salinity. At low salinities salts are taken up and accumulate in old leaves, and high growth rates are maintained because new leaves are produced at a higher rate than for plants not exposed to salt.     

NaCl处理对西伯利亚白刺幼苗生长及离子平衡的影响

以1年生西伯利亚白刺水培幼苗为材料,研究了不同浓度NaCl(0、200、400mmol·L~(-1))处理对幼苗生长及不同器官(根、茎、叶)中Na~+、K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)的吸收、运输与分配的影响,探讨西伯利亚白刺的盐适应机制。结果表明:(1)200mmol·L~(-1) NaCl处理促进了西伯利亚白刺幼苗的生长及叶片肉质化程度,400mmol·L-1 NaCl处理显著抑制其生长。(2)随着NaCl处理浓度的升高,西伯利亚白刺幼苗根、茎、叶中Na~+含量显著增加,且叶中Na~+含量显著高于茎和根中;根系中K~+含量显著增加;根、茎、叶中Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)含量在200mmol·L~(-1) NaCl处理下保持平稳或上升,而在400mmol·L-1 NaCl处理下显著下降。(3)各器官中K~+/Na~+、Ca~(2+)/Na~+和Mg~(2+)/Na~+比值总体随NaCl处理浓度的升高呈下降趋势,且根部离子比值始终高于叶片和茎。(4)随着NaCl处理浓度的升高,西伯利亚白刺幼苗根-茎SK,Na显著下降,而根-茎SCa,Na、SMg,Na及茎-叶SK,Na、SCa,Na、SMg,Na逐渐提高。研究发现,西伯利亚白刺的盐适应机制主要是通过植株的补偿生长效应及叶片对Na~+的聚积作用实现的,同时也与根系对K~+的扣留及茎叶对K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)选择性运输能力增强有关。     

Growth characteristics and ion contents of non-selected and salt-selected callus lines of highbush blueberry (Vacdnium corymbosum) cultivars Blue Crop and Denise Blue

Non-selected and sodium chloride selected callus lines of Vacdnium corymbosum L.cv Blue Crop and cv. Denise Blue were grown on media supplemented with 0–100 mM NaCl. For both cultivars, fresh weight and dry weight yields were greater in selected lines on all levels of NaCl. Selected lines of Blue Crop displayed better growth than selected lines of Denise Blue at most concentrations of NaCl. Internal Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations in selected and non-selected lines of both cultivars increased as external concentration was raised. However, selected lines of Blue Crop and Denise Blue accumulated more Na⁺ and Cl^– than non-selected lines. Selected lines of both cultivars maintained higher levels of K⁺ than non-selected lines on all external NaCl levels. Selected lines of Blue Crop had higher levels of Na⁺ and Cl^– than that of Denise Blue. The results suggest Na⁺ and Cl^– accumulation could be a mechanism allowing better growth in selected lines at moderate salinity levels (50–75 mM NaCl).     

Growth rate, water relations and ion accumulation of soybean callus lines differing in salinity tolerance under salinity stress and its subsequent relief

A selected Glycine max (L.) salt-tolerant calluscell line (R100) was significantly more tolerant to salt than a salt-sensitiveline (S100) during exposure to salt stress. Growth (Fresh and Dry weights) ofthe R100 cell line declined significantly at NaCl concentrations greater than 75mM, while growth of the S100 cell line was already impaired at 25mM NaCl. Levels of Na⁺ and Cl^– inthe callus were elevated as the salt concentration increased, whileK⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ levels weremarkedly reduced. The lower s reduction and Na⁺accumulation found in the S100 callus corresponded with the higher callusdehydration during salinity. Calli grown on Miller's basal medium weresupplied with 100 mM NaCl for 12 days and then supplied with mediumwithout NaCl to relieve salinity stress. The Na⁺ andCl^– content decreased in both R100 and S100 cell lines duringthe first 24 h and reached normal levels four days after transferto the normal medium. This lower concentration was maintained until the end ofthe experiment. Concurrently, the K⁺ content andK⁺/Na⁺ ratio increased sharply and reached theirhighest levels within 24 h in both salt-sensitive and salt-tolerantcell lines. These data suggest that the inhibitory effects of salinization ongrowth and accumulation of potentially toxic ions (Na⁺,Cl^–) can be readily reversed when salinity is relieved.     

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。     

Kinetics of K+-p-Nitrophenyl Phosphatase Stimulation by a Brain Soluble Fraction

We have already described the separation of two brain soluble fractions by Sephadex G-50, one of which stimulates (peak I) and the other inhibits (peak II) Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and K⁺-p-nitrophenylphosphatase (K⁺-p-NPPase) activities. Here we examine the features of synaptosomal membrane p-NPPase activity in the presence and absence of brain peak I. It was observed that stimulation of Mg²⁺, K⁺-p-NPPase activity by peak I was concentration dependent, The ability of peak I to stimulate p-NPPase activity was lost by heat treatment followed by brief centrifugation. Pure serum albumin also stimulated enzyme activity. K⁺-p-NPPase stimulation by peak I proved dependent on K⁺ concentration but independent of Mg²⁺ and substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate concentrations. Since our determinations were performed in a non-phosphorylating condition reflecting the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase Na⁺ site, it is suggested that peak I may stimulate the Na⁺-dependent enzyme phosphorylation known to take place from the internal cytoplasmic side.     

Effects of buffer capacity on growth,photosynthesis, and solute accumulation of a glycophyte (wheat) and a halophyte (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chloris virgata</Emphasis>)

Two species with different resistances to alkaline pH, the glycophylic Triticum aestivum (wheat) and the halophilic Chloris virgata, were chosen as test organisms. The salt-alkaline (SA) mixed stress conditions with different buffer capacities (BC) but with the same salt molarities and pH were established by mixing neutral (NaCl, Na₂SO₄), and alkaline salts (NaHCO₃ and Na₂CO₃) in various proportions. Growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and solute accumulation of the seedlings were monitored to test the validity of BC as a decisive index of alkali-stress (AS) intensity in SA mixed stress. At the same salinities and pHs, the relative growth rate, the content of photosynthetic pigments, and net photosynthetic rates of wheat and C. virgata decreased, while Na⁺ content and Na⁺/K⁺ ratios in shoots increased with increasing BC. Hence BC was a true measure of AS intensity at mixed SA stress and the alkali-resistance mechanism of plants was easy to interpret. BC of soil solution is an important parameter for estimating the alkalization degree of salt-alkalized soil.     

Salt Tolerance in Aquatic Macrophytes: Ionic Relation and Interaction

Effects of seawater salinity (SWS) and pure NaCl on the intracellular contents of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, chlorophylls (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) were studied in three submerged aquatic macrophytes, Hydrilla verticillata, Najas indica and Najas gramenia, which differed in their tolerance to salinity. NaCl resulted in significant increase in Chl/Car ratio in the salt-sensitive H. verticillata and moderately salt-tolerant N. indica, but not in the salt-tolerant N. gramenia. SWS treatment did not result in any significant change in the ratio. The intracellular content of Na⁺ increased significantly in all the test plants upon exposure to both NaCl and SWS. The content of K⁺ decreased significantly in these plants upon salinity treatment, except in N. gramenia. The contents of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ decreased significantly upon NaCl treatment and remained unchanged or increased upon SWS treatment. No relationship between salt tolerance and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio was observed. The maintenance of a minimal level of K⁺ was observed to be the most probable requirement of salt tolerance in aquatic macrophytes.