Alkaline Salt Tolerance of the Biomass Plant <i>Arundo donax</i>
Brigitta Müller,
Vitor Arcoverde Cerveira Sterner,
László Papp,
Zoltán May,
László Orlóci,
Csaba Gyuricza,
László Sági,
Ádám Solti,
Ferenc Fodor
Affiliations
Brigitta Müller
Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Plant Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Lane 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
Vitor Arcoverde Cerveira Sterner
Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Plant Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Lane 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
László Papp
Botanical Gardens, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Illés Street 25, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
Zoltán May
Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Magyar Tudósok Blvd. 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
László Orlóci
Research Group of Ornamental Horticulture and Green System, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Villányi Street 29-43, 1118 Budapest, Hungary
Csaba Gyuricza
Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly Street 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
László Sági
Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Brunszvik Street 2, 2462 Martonvásár, Hungary
Ádám Solti
Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Plant Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Lane 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
Ferenc Fodor
Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Plant Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Lane 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
Soil alkalinization and salinization have increased worldwide due to extreme and/or prolonged drought periods as well as insufficient irrigation. Since crops generally react to soil salinity and high pH with decreased yield, the cultivation of tolerant biomass plants represents a reasonable alternative. Thus, we aimed to characterize the tolerance of the biomass plant Arundo donax to alkaline salt stress, induced by irrigation water containing NaHCO3 and Na2CO3 mixture (1:1) at 80 mM and 200 mM of final concentration and pH 10. In terms of physiological parameters such as transpiration, chlorophyll content, photosystem II quantum efficiency, relative water content, and water saturation, the plants were resistant to the stress treatment. The negative impact on the water regime was only measured at 200 mM salt. The K/Na ratio decreased in parallel with Na accumulation. Plants also accumulated Zn, whereas a decrease in the concentration of most other elements (Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Ni, S, Si, and Sr) was detected. Antioxidative defence directed by multiple symplastic enzymes contributed to the high physiological tolerance to the applied stress. In conclusion, the cultivation of Arundo donax as a biomass crop appears to be a feasible alternative in areas affected by salinity or alkaline salt accumulation.
