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Among major constraints to crop production, salt stress affects the morphological structure and yield in crop plants. Nano-fertilizers, have made their hierarchy to supplement the traditional fertilizers in mitigating the effect of abiotic stress due to their slow release and efficiency. Three products were tested namely lithovit®-standard(LITHO), monopotassium-phosphate(MKP:0-52-34), and aspirin(ASP) on salt-stressed tomato crop. These products were applied through foliar spraying (foliar) or fertigation (ferti) on tomato plants irrigated with 4 saline solutions (4, 6, 8 and 10dS/m). Control plants were subjected to five salinity levels (0, 4, 6, 8 and 10dS/m) without any treatments. Results showed that increasing in salinity levels adversely affected all parameters in the control plants. The ameliorating effect of MKP-ferti was prominent in plant height, stem diameter, number of fruits, fruit weight and yield/plant at 4 and 6S/m. Whereas, the effect of salinity was mitigated by LITHO-foliar regarding flowers number and total chlorophyll content at all salinity level. Leaf N, P and K contents were accumulated higher when MKP-ferti was used whereas, Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents were accumulated higher in the plants treated with LITHO-foliar. The cellular leakage of electrolyte was reduced at 4, 6 and 10dS/m with MKP-ferti and at 8dS/m with LITHO-foliar application. Among the two methods of application, foliar spraying of LITHO and ASP, and fertigation of MKP improved plant performance more than their complementary methods of application. The better performance of MKP necessitates the use of phosphorous and potassium-based nano-fertilizers. It can reduce the production cost of vegetables using conventional fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing the benefits of phosphate and calcium supplementation to support the growth of Salicornia persica exposed to varying intensities of salinity stress. To achieve this, various concentrations of calcium and phosphorus applied at different levels of salinity under greenhouse conditions with three replications. Under the higher levels of salinity, the decline in shoot biomass is accomplished by the enhancement of leaf water potential. Salinity-challenged plants accumulated both Na+ and soluble sugars, while their content of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ions as well as that of phosphate declined. Supplementation with either calcium or phosphate reduced the uptake of Na, K, and Mg. At 200 mM or 300 mM salinity levels, the plants' sucrose, fructose, and glucose contents were all correlated with the concentration of calcium. Phosphate supplementation increased the soluble sugar content. Therefore, both calcium and phosphate treatment can be used to ameliorate the biomass production of S. persica in moderate level of salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of silicon (Si) priming at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5mM on germination, ion balance, and root structure of two durum wheat cultivars at 0, 100, and 200mM sodium chloride (NaCl) was conducted in a laboratory. An aliquot of 200mM NaCl with 1.5mM Si improved Behrang cultivar germination from 54 to 88%, but in Yavaros only from 49 to 85%. In Behrang, the control root length at 200mM NaCl increased from 5.07 to 7.11mm when treated with 1.5mM Si, but Yavaros only increased from 3.18 to 4.09mm. Behrang accumulated less sodium (Naþ) and more potassium (Kþ). For mean diameter of central and peripheral metaxylem cells, Behrang benefitted more from Si amelioration than Yavaros. Salinity affected the diameter of central and peripheral metaxylem cells to a greater degree compared to vessel number. Si soil application (1.0 and 1.5mM Si) may help to establish durum wheat seeds grown under saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield and nutrient contents may be affected under salinity condition. Thus, this experiment was conducted to determine the effect of three salinity levels (60, 120, and 180 mM NaCl) on shoot and root dry weights, and mineral contents of three alfalfa cultivars. With the increasing salinity levels sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) contents increased; but potassium (K), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) contents and root and leaf weights decreased; however, changes in these traits depended on cultivar and salinity level. However, Rehnani, a tolerant cultivar, had the lowest Na and Mg contents and the highest K, N, P, Ca, Zn, and Cu contents and dry weights under all of the salinity levels. Moreover, leaf dry weight and leaf P content had the highest correlation with salt tolerance suggesting that these traits may be used as a marker for selecting salts that are tolerant among genotypes in alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicornia persicais a halophyte plant that has been evolutionarily adapted to cope with saline conditions. In the current study, greenhouse experiments were designed to assess the effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) onSalicorniaspecies collected from central region of Iran. Fresh and dry matter production, water potential, ion concentration, proline and glycine betaine accumulation and soluble sugar content were evaluated in eight salt treatments, including 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 mM NaCl. Increasing NaCl concentration up to 200 mM led to the maximum increase in shoot and root fresh and dry weights. Concentration of sodium (Na+) had a positive correlation with increasing salt levels while calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+) contents declined in the shoot. Accumulations of proline and glycine betaine increased with the increasing concentrations of NaCl. Sugar content also decreased by increased salt concentration.Salicorniaplants treated with higher levels of NaCl were more succulent compared to the control plants. Positive and negative correlation was observed between salt concentration and water content and water potential, respectively. The results also suggested that this succulent halophytic plant may use sodium ion for acceleration of water uptake where water is scarce, to maintain or decrease sodium concentration in cellular spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The reduction in tiller number is a major reason for a decrease in grain yield of wheat. Thus, we hypothesize that the limiting growth of tillering of wheat plant under saline conditions may be due to a different distribution of ions among tillers, which may be tested by tiller removal. Two contrasting spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were subjected to five levels of detillering treatments under saline or non-saline conditions grown in a greenhouse. Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), chloride (Cl−), and nitrate (NO3 −) concentrations in the top leaves of tillers were determined at plant maturity. Regardless of genotypes, the moderate salinity significantly increased the Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the top leaves and the decreased NO3 − in the mainstem, subtillers and whole plant. Potassium and Ca2+ concentrations in leaves were not affected or slightly increased by salinity. Under moderate salinity, Na+ and/or Ca2+ concentrations in mainstem, subtillers and the whole plant were increased with a decrease in tiller removal for both genotypes, while there was almost no effect of tiller removal on Cl− and NO3 − concentration. The tiller removal increased the tolerance of wheat to tissue Na+ content, especially for the salt sensitive genotype. Thus, the salt-specific effects in wheat plant could be alleviated by fewer tillers per plant through the removal for the salt-sensitive genotype. However, our study did not show the competition for the mineral nutrients among tillers under saline conditions. Thus, we speculate that there is a competition for photoassimilates among the tillers under saline conditions, especially for the salt sensitive genotype, which needs to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Turfgrass salinity tolerance is usually studied under conditions of non-limiting nutrition, even though most turfgrasses are managed with growth-limiting levels of nitrogen (N). This study examined the effect of N status (replete versus deficient) on salinity tolerance in tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Additionally, the interactive effects of N status and salinity on tissue ion concentrations were determined. Two cultivars (‘Monarch’ and ‘Finelawn I’) were grown in nutrient solution culture. Treatments included N level (100% or 25% of maximum N demand) and salinity (0, 40, 80, 120 meq L -1 ). Salinity reduced leaf growth under high-N conditions, but much less so under low-N conditions. Concentrations of potassium (K), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) in the leaf sap were significantly higher in low-N than in high-N plants, indicating that increased salinity tolerance in low-N turf was not due to ion exclusion. These results suggest that efforts to screen turfgrasses for salt tolerance should be conducted using realistic N-fertility levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of three irrigation salinity levels (1.8, 3.3, and 4.8 dS/m) on ion accumulation and relative turgidity of Cabernet Sauvignon ( Vitis vinifea ) grapes on ‘Rugerri’ and ‘Salt Creek’ rootstocks were studied in order to introduce more saline water in the Negev Desert of Israel. Leaf samples were taken four times during the summer of 1997 and analyzed for total diffusible ions, which included sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), and for soluble ions, which included zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). Quality and quantity of yield were also measured. The lowest relative turgidity, 0.8, was measured at ECi (electrical conductivity of irrigation water) 4.8 dS/m, which decreased with time to 0.75 for all treatments. The Na/K ratio indicated relative sodium accumulation. It increased fast with time from about 0.1 to 1.4 under high salinity and more slowly, from 0.1 to 0.5, under the low-salinity treatment. Average yield of fresh berries under all treatments (except one) ranged between 8.0 and 8.5 kg/vine under the respective saline and fresh-water irrigation. This difference was not significant, but in view of the first-year experiment this result should be regarded as provisional. The juice quality criteria, as determined by the production of total soluble solids (TSS) pH 2 , improved from 321 to 288, indicating low acidity under the saline treatment and higher acidity under the non-saline treatment. The ratio of TSS/acidity, which changed slightly from 34 to 32, also indicated a moderate reduction in acidity under saline conditions, especially under the ‘Ruggeri’ rootstock. Thus, it was concluded that (a) by the use of saline water the quality of the berries may be improved, (b) ‘Ruggeri’ rootstock was less affected than ‘Salt Creek’ by salinity in both quantity and quality of yield, and (c) relative sodium (Na) content in the lamina and the petiole increased with time during the growth period while relative turgidity declined, indicating a possible accumulation of toxic ions over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of salinization of soil with Na 2 SO 4 , CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , and NaCl (70:35:10:23) on the biochemical characteristics of three wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (‘LU-26S,’ ‘Sarsabaz’ and ‘Pasban-90’) was investigated under natural environmental conditions. Twenty-day-old seedlings of all three cultivars were subjected to three salinity treatments: 1.3 (control), 5.0, and 10 dSm -1 for the entire life period of plants. After 120 d of seed sowing, plant biomass production decreased by 49% and 65%, respectively, in response to 5 and 10 dSm -1 salinity levels. Addition of salts to growth medium also had a significant adverse effect on plant height. Increasing salinity treatments caused a great reduction in nitrate reductase activity (NRA) of the leaf. The inhibitory effect of salinity on nitrate reduction rate was more pronounced at the reproductive stage than at the vegetative stage of plant growth. Wheat cultivars ‘LU-26S’ and ‘Sarsabaz’ showed less reduction in NRA due to salinity compared with ‘Pasban-90.’ Ascending salinity levels significantly reduced potassium (K + ) and calcium (Ca 2+ ) accumulation in shoots, while the concentration of sodium (Na + ) was increased. Salts of growth medium increased the shoot nitrogen (N) concentration, whereas phosphorous (P) concentration of shoots was significantly reduced due to salinity. Wheat cultivars ‘LU-26S’ and ‘Sarsabaz’ proved to be the salt-tolerant ones, producing greater biomass, showing less reduction in NRA, maintaining low sodium (Na + ), and accumulating more K + and Ca 2+ in response to salinity. These two cultivars also showed less reduction in shoot K + /Na + and Ca + /Na + ratios than in ‘Pasban-90,’ particularly at the 10 dSm -1 salinity level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline wastewaters may provide a valuable water source for the irrigation of selected salt-tolerant floriculture crops as water quality and quantity becomes limited and as demand for quality water increases. A 2 × 7 factorial design with three replications was used to test the effects of water ionic composition and salinity, respectively, on emergence, survival, and mineral accumulation of the salt-tolerant cut flower Limonium perezii (Stapf) F. T. Hubb cv. ‘Blue Seas.’ Seeds (n = 100) were sown in each of 42 presalinized greenhouse sand tanks. Irrigation water composition represented saline drainage waters typically present in either the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) or the Imperial/Coachella Valleys (ICV) of California. Electrical conductivity levels of the treatment waters were 2.5 (control), 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 dS m - 1 , respectively. Seedling emergence was monitored daily and leaf mineral concentrations (total sulfur (S), total phosphorus (P), Ca 2 + , Mg 2 + , Na + , K + , and Cl - ) were determined three months after planting. A two-way ANOVA revealed that salinity had a significant effect on seedling emergence (F = 27.56; P [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this study, the diversity of some effects of salinity on rosette growth, seed production, and seed viability in Arabidopsis thaliana was explored. Plants from 5 accessions (“ecotypes”) were grown on a sand-peat mixture irrigated with nutritive medium. At the emergence of inflorescence axis, 35 mM NaCl was added to the solution. Several morphological parameters of the rosette were measured at the beginning of silique opening, irrigation was interrupted and the substrate was allowed to dry. The siliques and the mature seeds were harvested, and assayed for K+, Na+ and Cl−. Seeds were sown on pure water and germination kinetics were determined. There was a large inter-ecotype variability of the effect of salt on the rosette growth and on all factors contribution to reproduction (number of inflorescence axes, number of flower per axis, flower fertility, and seed viability). Among the five ecotypes, those with highest levels of Na+ and Cl− in the silique valves produced the less viable seeds. This comparison, (i) suggests that salt accumulation in the former organs has detrimental effect on seed maturation, and (ii) indicates that there is a natural variability for control of ion transport to fruits in A. thaliana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is among the most widespread and prevalent problems in irrigated agriculture. Many members of the family Chenopodiaceae are classified as salt tolerant. One member of this family, which is of increasing interest, is quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) which is able to grow on poorer soils. Salinity sensitivity studies of quinoa were conducted in the greenhouse on the cultivar, “Andean Hybrid” to determine if quinoa had useful mechanisms for salt tolerant studies. For salt treatment we used a salinity composition that would occur in a typical soil in the San Joaquin Valley of California using drainage waters for irrigation. Salinity treatments (ECi) ranging from 3, 7, 11, to 19 dS m-1 were achieved by adding MgSO4, Na2SO4, NaCl, and CaCl2 to the base nutrient solution. These salts were added incrementally over a four-day period to avoid osmotic shock to the seedlings. The base nutrient solution without added salt served as the non-saline control solution (3 dS m-1). Solution pH was uncontrolled and ranged from 7.7 to 8.0. For comparative purposes, we also examined Yecora Rojo, a semi-dwarf wheat, Triticum aestivum L. With respect to salinity effects on growth in quinoa, we found no significant reduction in plant height or fresh weight until the electrical conductivity exceeded 11 dS m-1. The growth was characteristic of a halophyte with a significant increase in leaf area at 11 dS m-1 as compared with 3 dS m-1 controls. As to wheat, plant fresh and dry weight, canopy height, and leaf area did not differ between controls (3 dS m-1) and plants grown at 7 dS m-1. Beyond this threshold, however, plant growth declined. While both quinoa and wheat exhibited increasing Na+ accumulation with increasing salinity levels, the percentage increase was greater in wheat. Examination of ion ratios indicated that K+:Na+ ratio decreased with increasing salinity in both species. The decrease was more dramatic in wheat. A similar observation was also made with... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]