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Effect of Salt Stress on Root Physio-biochemical Traits of Sporobolus marginatus (Grass Halophyte)

CHARU LATA*, A. KUMAR, S. RANI AND A. MANN
Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : charusharmabiotech@gmail.com; Mobile : )
(Received : February 20, 2019; Accepted : April 12, 2019)

ABSTRACT

Roots are the primary structure that first senses the negative effects of salt stress. So, roots were selected to
study the effect of salinity/alkalinity on biochemical traits and ionic relations in Sporobolus marginatus (grass
halophyte) under stress conditions. For the present study, different treatments of salinity/sodicity (pH ~ 9.5,
pH ~ 10, ECe ~ 30 dS/m, ECe ~ 40 dS/m and ECe ~ 50 dS/m) were maintained using saline/sodic water irrigations. Root Na+ as well as K+ content increased with increase in sodicity and salinity stresses in S. marginatus but higher accumulation was found at saline stress as compared to sodic stress. Chloride accumulation pattern was similar to that of Na+. Roots accumulated higher proline under salinity stress i. e. at ECe ~ 50 dS/m (4.24 folds) than sodicity stress (2.34 folds at pH ~ 10.0). In control roots, S. marginatus had 7.07 mg/g protein content which was reduced under stress conditions. Higher reductions were noted under salinity stress i. e. 29.7% reduction at ECe ~ 50 dS/m as compared to sodicity stress i. e. 11.6% at pH ~ 10.0 with respect to control. Interestingly, it was also found that salinity and sodicity stress had lower damaging effect on S. marginatus metabolism which makes it tolerant grass, suitable to grow under salt affected environment.

Key words : Salinity, alkalinity, root, ionic relation, Sporobolus marginatus