Effects of salinity in various light intensities on some physiological characteristics of Haloxylon ammodendron

This study investigated the effect of salinity (control, 8 and 24 ds/m) and light intensity (complete light equal to 1109 × 102 Lux, intermediate light equal to 454 × 102 Lux and weak light equal to 175 × 102 Lux) on some physiological characteristics and ion uptake in Haloxylon ammodendron . The experiment conducted in completely randomizes design in split plot form with 10 replicates. Results showed that the amounts of Prolin in intermediate and weak light intensity was significantly lower than in complete light intensity. The amount of prolin in complete light intensity was equal to 0.42 mg/gfw and in weak light intensity was equal to 0.17 mg/gfw. Salinity also increased the amounts of prolin and soluble sugar. The highest amounts of chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and the amount of K+ was observed in intermediate and weak light intensity and the lowest was in complete light intensity. The amount of phosphorous was significantly higher in complete light intensity compared to control and in intermediate light intensity. In contrast to other ions, the amount of Na+ in complete light intensity was significantly high compared to intermediate and weak light intensity. Increasing salinity increased the amounts of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll. The amount of Nitrogen and K+ also increased with increasing salinity. The amount of K+ in salinity of 24 ds/m was equal to 48.8 mg/gdw and in control was equal to 71 mg/gdw. In contrast to K+ , the amount of Na+ increased with increasing salinity. K/Na decreased with increasing salinity. The results of light and salinity interaction showed that decreasing light intensity increased the amount of relative water content in salinity of 8 and 24 ds/m. Light and salinity interaction also ameliorate the calcium uptake in salinity of 24 ds/m. Intermediate light intensity also ameliorate mg++ uptake in salinity of 8 and 24 ds/m. Therefore under condition of this experiment decreasing light intensity provided better condition for producing H. ammodendron plant.