Growth, photosynthesis and respiration in Plantago coronopus as affected by salinity |
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Authors: | Tjeerd Blacquiè re,Hans Lambers |
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Affiliation: | Department of Plant Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren (Gn.), The Netherlands;School of Agriculture &Forestry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. |
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Abstract: | Plantago coronopus was grown in a non-saline culture solution and in a culture solution containing 50 m M NaCl. The rates of dry matter accumulation in both roots and shoots were not affected by 50 m M NaCl. Photosynthesis, expressed per shoot, was also the same in both environments. Neither the rate of shoot respiration nor that of root respiration was affected by salinity. In both environments the alternative respiratory pathway contributed to the same extent in root respiration. The activity of the alternative pathway decreased with increasing age. Since the respiratory activities were the same in plants grown under both saline and non-saline conditions and since the alternative respiratory pathway was also equally active in roots under both environmental conditions, it is concluded that respiratory costs involved in growth in 50 m M NaCl are negligible in terms of the plant's total energy costings. |
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Keywords: | Respiration alternative pathway salinity Plantago |
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