Response of some physiological Traits to salinity stress in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

In order to study some of the physiological responses of sugar beet plant to salinitystress, A 4- replicate CRD greenhouse experiment was conducted with five salinity levels(o, 85, 171,256 and 342 mM Nacl). Seeds were planted in greenhouse and plantlets irrigated by Hoagland nutrition solution. Total dry weight, Leaf area, total Leaf chlorophyll, proline in shoot and Na+, k+ in the leaves were measured at the final leaf growth stage. Results showed that with increasing salinity levels total Leaf chlorophyll, Leaf area and total dry weight decreased, while proline content in shoots and Na+ in leaves significantly increased with increasing salinity levels. K+ content in leaves decreased with increasing salinity stress. Accumulation of Na+ in the leaves particularly at high salinity levels lead to nutrient deficiency, ionic toxicity and growth decrease. The high level of proline enhanced the plant to maintain osmotic adjustment when growing under low water potentials.