Growth, physiological characteristics and ion distribution of NaCl stressed Alhagi sparsifolia seedlings

Abstract

Alhagi sparsifolia is a leguminous perennial desert species that is plays an important role in dune stabilization and revegetation of degraded desert ecosystems. We investigated the effects of three different levels of salinity (50, 150, 250 mmol/L NaCl) on the growth, shoot photosynthetic parameters and salt distribution amongst different plant organs in one-year-old A. sparsifolia seedlings in a pot experiment over a 50 d period. The minimum (predawn) and maximum (midday) water potentials of A. sparsifolia seedlings decreased with the increase of external NaCl concentrations as a consequence of the osmotic or water deficit effect of saline solutions outside the roots. Salinity also reduced..