Salt stress responses of a halophytic grass Aeluropus lagopoides 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.