The effect of salinity on the growth, water status, and ion content of a leaf succulent perennial halophyte, Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk

Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk plants grown in saline conditions (200 to 400 mol m−3NaCl) had greater fresh and dry weights than those grown in non-saline controls, and 600 to 1000 mol m−3NaCl inhibited growth. Gibberellic acid and kinetin both alleviated some of the inhibitory effects of salinity at 800 mol m−3NaCl on shoot growth of S. fruticosa while root growth was promoted by kinetin. Tissue water content increased in up to 200 mol m−3NaCl but decreased with a further increase in salinity. Water potential and osmotic potential of plants became more negative with an increase in salinity. Leaf Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+concentration decreased with increasing salinity, while both Na+and Cl−increased and reached 1391 and 1673 mmol kg−1dry weight, respectively. Total glycinebetaine content of shoots was highest at 600 to 1000 mol m−3NaCl.