Interactions between growth, uptake of Cl− and Na+, and water relations of plants in saline environments. II. Highly vacuolated cells

Abstract. In a highly saline environment high rates of ion uptake are required to generate sufficient osmotic pressure to maintain the turgor that is needed for the continued growth of plants. We estimate the rates of net uptake of Cl⁻ and Na⁺ required by growing cells to sustain cell expansion at an external NaCl concentration of 500 mol m⁻³. We also estimate the ion fluxes required to regulate turgor of expanding and fully expanded cells during diurnal changes in transpiration. Passive fluxes could contribute significantly to osmotic regulation, but active fluxes are still essential and would consume a substantial amount of energy. We discuss whether a limitation to growth at high salinity would arise from lack of energy, or from insufficient capacity for ion uptake. There is insufficient evidence to choose between these possibilities.