Journal article

Publication year: 2004

Pages: 135-139

Journal: Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality

Volume number: 78

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 1613-9216

Publisher: Julius Kühn-Institut - Bundesforschungsinstitut für Kulturpflanzen (Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants)

Abstract: 
Salt stress reduces plant growth, especially that of glycophytic plants such as maize (Zea mays L.). According to the two-phase model proposed by MUNNS ( 1993), the first phase of salt stress is caused by osmotic effects, which are postulated to be responsible for the growth reduction. In a second phase, Ne accumulates and becomes toxic. In this study, we tested this model for a relatively salt-resistant maize genotype (Pioneer 3906) with particular attention to possible ion-specific effects apart from the osmotic stress during the first phase of salt stress. We induced osmotic stress in hydroponic culture by application of 100 mM NaCl or by equivalent osmotic potential adjusted with polyethyleneglycol (PEG 6000). The growth of the 4(th) leaf 5, 7, and 9 d after stress application of both treatments was strongly reduced in comparison to their corresponding controls. This indicates a prevalence of osmotic stress in the first phase of growth reduction. In comparison to the PEG treatment, a significant reduction in leaf growth under NaCl treatment was observed, which reveals an additional ion effect. An experiment using various salt solutions (NaCl, Na2SO4 and MgCl2) with equivalent ion concentrations and identical osmotic potential adjusted with PEG identified Na+ toxicity during the first phase of salt stress. In conclusion, we propose a modification of the two-phase model of salt stress for maize.

Harvard Citation style: Sümer, A., Zörb, C., Yan, F. and Schubert, S. (2004) Evidence of sodium toxicity for the vegetative growth of maize (Zea mays L.) during the first phase of salt stress, Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, 78(2), pp. 135-139

APA Citation style: Sümer, A., Zörb, C., Yan, F., & Schubert, S. (2004). Evidence of sodium toxicity for the vegetative growth of maize (Zea mays L.) during the first phase of salt stress. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality. 78(2), 135-139.