Photosynthetic Characteristics of Kochia as Affected by Salinity Stress

  Low precipitation, high temperature and high evaporation along with excessive consumption of water sources have led to reduced quantity and quality of water sources (e.g. water salinization) in arid and semi-arid regions which ultimately affect crop growth. Environmental stresses such as salinity, cause alterations in a wide range of physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes in plants. So, identification of plants which are less affected by salinity could be of great importance in breeding programs. Kochia (Bassia scoparia) is such a crop which its high tolerance to salinity has been reported in previous studies. Since photosynthesis is the most fundamental and intricate physiological process in all green plants determining plant yield under salinity stress, the aim of this study was evaluation of the effects of salinity on photosynthetic characteristics of kochia. In order to study photosynthetic characteristics of kochia under salinity conditions, an experiment was conducted as split-plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Three masses of kochia including Birjand, Borujerd and Sabzevar were considered in main plots and three levels of salinity (5.2, 10.5 and 23.1 dS.m-1) as sub-plots. Photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, stomatal conductance, Sub-stomatal CO2 concentration and quantum yield of PSII were measured in the youngest fully expanded leaf for seven weeks started from thirty days after imposing stress. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids and green area were measured at anthesis. Data were analyzed using Minitab 16 and means were compared by LSD test at a significance level of 0.05. Results indicated that photosynthesis and evapotranspiration was decreased over the time after salinity imposed. Photosynthesis and evapotranspiration in different masses and salinity levels was almost the same in the 8th week after imposing salinity stress. At the end of the growth season, photosynthesis and evapotranspiration indicated too much decrease in all salinity levels and reached to a same level. In the 4th week after salinity was imposed, the highest photosynthesis was observed in Birjand, Sabzevar and Borujerd, respectively. Reduction intensity of evapotranspiration in time was more in Birjand compared to Borujerd and Sabzevar masses. CO2 sub-stomatal CO2 showed a pronounced increase in all masses and a salinity levels in the 8th weeks after salinity imposed. Results of chlorophyll fluorescence indices in the salinity imposing period indicated an improvement of these indices and finally the increase in quantum yield of photosystem II. Stomatal conductance showed a decreasing trend during time and reached to the lowest level in the 11th week after imposing stress. The lowest mean of this parameter was belong to Sabzevar mass. Stomatal conductance did not vary much till tenth week after imposing salinity while it got a steep slope decreasing trend in the other two salinity levels in week seven. Decreasing trend of stomatal conductance was stronger in treatments of 10.5 and 23.1 dS.m-1 compared to 5.2dS.m-1. Leaf content of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids and total pigments at anthesis were not affected by kochia masses and salinity levels. Interaction of salinity and mass indicated a lower green area in higher salinity levels. The highest and lowest green area was observed in Borujerd mass in salinity levels of 5.2 and 23.1 dS.m-1, respectively. Results of this experiment indicated that photosynthesis and quantum yield of PSII in kochia did not vary much as salinity intensity increased. Also, content of photosynthesis pigments was not affected by salinity stress. Generally, it could be concluded that photosynthesis system of kochia is capable to maintain its normal processes although being imposed to sever salinity stress and though could be used as a model crop in plant breeding programs