Salinity effects on photosynthesis and growth in Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart. ) Griseb

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Plant Physiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.75.4.1044· OSTI ID:5930332

Longstreth, D J; Bolanos, J A; Smith, J E

Alternanthera philoxeroides, alligator weed, was grown at five different NaCl concentrations to determine the effect of salinity on factors related to the net rate of CO/sub 2/ uptake (P/sub n/). Over the range of 0 to 400 millimolar NaCl, P/sub n/ declined 51%. Stomatal conductance declined in parallel with P/sub n/ and as a result there was no reduction in intercellular CO/sub 2/ concentrations and therefore no reduction in the amount of CO/sub 2/ available for photosynthesis. The CO/sub 2/ compensation point did not change with salt stress. Increases in leaf thickness tended to compensate slightly for the negative effects of salinity on leaf cell metabolism, at least in relation to P/sub n/. On a mesophyll cell area basis, soluble protein was relatively constant in leaves developed at 100 to 400 millimolar NaCl while total chlorophyll decreased at all salinities. Dry weight production and P/sub n/ were closely correlated in alligator weed grown at different salinities. Plants produced less leaf area per unit dry weight as salinity increased, which may aid in water conservation. 26 references, 5 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge
• OSTI ID: 5930332
• Journal Information: Plant Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 75:4; ISSN PLPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHLOROPHYLL
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GROWTH
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LEAVES
METABOLISM
OPENINGS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SALINITY
SODIUM CHLORIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
STOMATA
SYNTHESIS
UPTAKE
WEEDS