Physiological and biochemical adaptations of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. from the Salt Range (Pakistan) to salinity stress

Naturally adapted salt tolerant populations provide a valuable material for exploring the adaptive components of salt tolerance. Under this aspect, two populations of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. were subjected to salt stress in hydroponics. One was collected from a heavily salt-affected soil in the vicinity of a natural salt lake, Uchhali Lake, in the Salt Range of the Punjab province of Pakistan, and the other from a normal non-saline habitat from the Faisalabad region. The NaCl treatments in Hoagland's nutrient solution were: Control (no salt), 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of NaCl. After 8 weeks of growth in hydroponics produced biomass, ion relations, and photosynthetic capacity were measured in the differently adapted ecotypes. In the ecotype of C. dactylon from the Salt Range, shoot dry weight was only slightly affected by varying levels of salt. However, in contrast, its root weight was markedly increased. On the other hand, the ecotype from Faisalabad (non-saline habitat) showed a marked decrease in shoot and root dry weights under saline regimes. The ecotype from the Salt Range accumulated relatively less amount of Na⁺ in the shoot than did that from Faisalabad, particularly at higher salt levels. Shoot or root K⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents varied inconsistently in both ecotypes under salt stress. All the photosynthetic parameters, leaf water potential and osmotic potential, and chlorophyll content in both ecotypes were adversely affected by salt stress, but all these physiological attributes except turgor potential and soluble sugars were less affected at high salinities in the salt tolerant ecotype from Salt Range. This ecotype accumulated significantly higher organic osmotica (total free amino acids, proline, total soluble proteins, and total soluble sugars) under saline conditions than its intolerant counterpart. Overall, the salt tolerant ecotype of C. dactylon from the Salt Range showed high salt tolerance due to its restricted uptake of Na⁺ accompanied by an increased uptake of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in the roots as well as shoot due to its higher photosynthetic capacity and accumulation of organic osmotica such as free amino acids and proline under saline conditions.