Morphological and physiological responses of root and leave in Gleditschia caspica to salinity stress

Abstract

In this research morphological and physiological responses of root and leaves of Gleditschia caspica were studied under salinity stress (control, 4. 8 and 12 ds/m) based on a randomized split plot design with four replicates. The results showed that salinity (12 ds/m) decreased all morphological characteristics exept for root length, aerial biomass and number of leaflet. Root proline in 12 ds/m salinity was equal to 27 mg g-1fw that were 5 times more than control. In contrast to root, leave proline decreased in all salinity treatments. Salinity significantly increased the amount of soluble sugar where in 12 ds/m salinity its amount was 4 times more than control. In contrast to leave, the amount of MDA in root (0.05 mol/g µfw ) was 2.5 times more than control. Salinity decreased the amount of chlorophyll (a, b and total chlorophyll) and the lowest amount for total chlorophyll found in 12 ds/m and was equal to 10.6 mg g-1fw. Salinity decreased root and leave potassium but increased the amount of sodium. The amount of sodium in 12 ds/m salinity was 4 times more than control. Salinity decreased root phosphor and its amounts in control were equal to 1055 mg/kg and in 12 ds/m salinity were equal to 833 mg/kg. Salinity increased leave phosphor in 8 ds/m. It is concluded that the responses of root and leaves to salinity stress were different. Root responsed to salinity by increasing the amounts of proline and leaves responsed by accumulation of sodium in cell vacuoles.

Keywords

• proline
• salinity
• root
• Gleditschia caspica