In: Phyton 56, Fasc. 2 (2016): S. 277-291 DOI: 10.12905/0380.phyton56(2)2016-0277

Leaf Physiological and Biochemical Adaptations in Leptothrium senegalense (Poaceae) to Salt Stress

By

Khawaja S. Ahmad, Mansoor Hameed, Muhammad Ashraf, Abdul Hamid, Fahim Nawaz, Jiabin Deng, Farooq Ahmad and Sana Fatima

Received May 15, 2016

Accepted October 14, 2016

Key words: Leptothrium senegalense Kunth, Poaceae, salt stress, physiological and biochemical adaptation, organic osmolytes, antioxidants. – Desert plants, Pakistan.

Summary
Ahmad K. S., Hameed M., Ashraf M., Hamid A., Nawaz F., Deng J., Ahmad F. & Fatima S. 2016. Leaf physiological and biochemical adaptations in Leptothrium senegalense (Poaceae) to salt stress. – Phyton (Horn, Austria) 56 (2): 277–291, with 5 figures.

Two differentially adapted populations of Leptothrium senegalense Kunth (Poaceae) collected from non-saline and saline habitat of Cholistan in Bahawalpur District (Pakistan) were subjected to hydroponic conditions to investigate the physiological and biochemical response under salt stress. Both populations were exposed in Hoagland’s nutrient solution with four levels of NaCl treatments. Salt tolerant population from saline area of Cholistan desert performed better than the other population from non-saline area, in terms of shoot fresh weight, increased net assimilation rate, high water use efficiency, maintenance of leaf turgor, organic osmolytes accumulation (particularly free proline) and restricted accumulation of toxic Na+ and Cl– at high salt level. Malondialdehyde (MDA) showed negative correlation with other enzymes revealing a direct link with the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) etc. Due to increase in these enzymes, MDA activities were reduced and net result was enhanced oxidative stress tolerance in plants.