biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 45:295-298, 2002 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015117327805

Growth and Metabolism of Senna as Affected by Salt Stress

A. Arshi¹, M.Z. Abdin², M. Iqbal¹

¹ Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

² Centre for Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

Pot culture experiments were conducted using different NaCl concentrations to assess their impact on the growth and metabolic changes in senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.). Five treatments (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 mM NaCl) were given to the plants at three phenological stages, i.e. at pre-flowering, (45 days after sowing, DAS); flowering (75 DAS) and post-flowering (90 DAS) stages. A significant reduction in the biomass and length of the roots and shoots, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, the total chlorophyll content, protein content, nitrate reductase activity, and reduced nitrogen content of the leaves was observed at each phenological stage with each salt concentration applied. Contrary to this, proline and nitrate contents of the leaves increased markedly. The post-flowering stage was most sensitive to NaCl treatment.

Keywords: Cassia angustifolia; chlorophyll; NaCl; nitrate reductase activity; photosynthetic rate; proline; protein

Subjects: Cassia angustifolia; chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, salt stress; gas exchange, salt stress, nitrate reductase; nitrate reductase; proline; salt stress, photosynthesis, photochemical activity, chlorophyll; senna, salt stress

Published: June 1, 2002Show citation