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Salt impact on photosynthesis and leaf ultrastructure of Aeluropus littoralis

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Abstract

The effects of salinity (400 mM NaCl) on growth, biomass partitioning, photosynthesis, and leaf ultrastructure were studied in hydroponically grown plants of Aeluropus littoralis (Willd) Parl. NaCl produced a significant inhibition of the main growth parameters and a reduction in leaf gas exchange (e.g. decreased rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance). However, NaCl salinity affected neither the composition of photosynthesis pigments nor leaf water content. The reduction in leaf gas exchange seemed to correlate with a decrease in mesophyll thickness as well as a severe disorganisation of chloroplast structure, with misshapen chloroplasts and dilated thylakoid membranes. Conspicuously, mesophyll chloroplasts were more sensitive to salt treatment than those of bundle sheath cells. The effects of NaCl toxicity on leaf structure and ultrastructure and the associated physiological implications are discussed in relation to the degree of salt resistance of A. littoralis.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Koyro Hans-Werner and Prof. Zaouchi Hédi for critical reading and comments, Prof. Helleli Rachid for providing the LCA-4 portable photosynthesis system, and Ms Aouatef Ben Ammar for her help regarding micrography.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Adaptation des Plantes aux Stress Abiotiques, Centre de Biotechnologie de la Technopole de Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia

    Zouhaier Barhoumi, Chedly Abdelly & Abderrazak Smaoui

  2. UR. Biologie et Physiologie Cellulaires Végétales, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 1060, Tunis, Tunisia

    Wahbi Djebali & Wided Chaïbi

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  1. Zouhaier Barhoumi
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  2. Wahbi Djebali
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Correspondence to Zouhaier Barhoumi.

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Barhoumi, Z., Djebali, W., Chaïbi, W. et al. Salt impact on photosynthesis and leaf ultrastructure of Aeluropus littoralis . J Plant Res 120, 529–537 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-007-0094-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-007-0094-z

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