Growth,mineral nutrition,organic constituents and rate of photosynthesis inSesbania grandiflora L. grown under saline conditions

Summary Sesbania showed a luxuriant growth in soil with an electrical conductivity of up to 10 m Scm⁻¹. Under saline conditions Na and Cl accumulated at different rates in the plants. Accumulation of these ions in the leaf rachis compared with leaflets appears to be an adaptive feature of this legume. Maintenance of an optimum K level and accumulation of Ca are also indicative of a salt-tolerance mechanism. Accumulation of Fe in the roots of salt-stressed plants is noteworthy. Organic acids and soluble sugars which accumulated in plants under stress condition may play a role in osmotic adjustment. The level of proline, however, remained unaltered. Though the chlorophyll content of the leaves decreased, the photosynthetic rate was found to be enhanced by saline conditions. The probable relationships between these changes and the salt tolerance mechanism in the plant have been discussed.