Physiological behavior of halophyte Aeluropus littoralis in response to salinity

Aeluropus littoralis، a monocot halophyte، plays an effective role in the conservation of water and soil resources and the production of forage for livestock in saline lands. In the current study، physiological characteristics of Aeluropus littoralis was investigated in response to different salinity levels. After disinfection، the seeds of Aeluropus littoralis were cultured in acid-washed sand in a growth chamber under controlled condition، temperature of 25/16 °C and photoperiod of 14/10 h for day/night. After 45 days of start culture، salinity treatments (0،100،200،300،400mM NaCl) were applied. The experimental design was completely randomized design with five treatments and three replications. After 14 days of last salinity treatment، plant materials were harvested. Results showed that the highest amount of shoot dry weight and ash content was observed in 200 mM NaCl. According to the results، potassium content of the shoot unlike sodium decreased with increasing salinity، while secreted sodium and potassium from plant aerial parts increased. Root carbohydrate content and the ratio of chlorophyll a to b increased in response to salinity. The concentration of starch and total soluble sugars of shoot demonstrated no significant relationship with the ratio of chlorophyll a/b at the highest salinity level. Our results suggested that the management of detrimental ions along with the regulation of plant assimilations effectively involved in the performance of Aeluropus littoralis to avoid the inhibitory effect of saline condition.