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Anatomical adaptations to salinity in cogon grass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel] from the Salt Range, Pakistan

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Abstract

To examine anatomical adaptations in a potential forage grass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel, a population was collected from the natural salt-affected soils of the Salt Range, Pakistan. Using a hydroponic system, the degree of salt tolerance in terms of structural modifications in the Salt Range ecotype was compared with that in an ecotype collected from a normal non-saline habitat of the Faisalabad region. The Salt Range ecotype was superior to the Faisalabad ecotype in biomass production under saline conditions. High salt tolerance of the Salt Range ecotype was associated with increased succulence in root and leaf (mainly midrib), formation of aerenchyma in leaf sheath, increased vascular bundle area, metaxylem area and phloem area, highly developed bulliform cells on leaves and increased sclerification in root and leaf. Furthermore, both stomatal density and stomatal area were considerably reduced under high salinities in the Salt Range ecotype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, 38040

    Mansoor Hameed, Muhammad Ashraf & Nargis Naz

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  1. Mansoor Hameed
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  2. Muhammad Ashraf
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  3. Nargis Naz
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Correspondence to Mansoor Hameed.

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Responsible Editor: Timothy J. Flowers.

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Hameed, M., Ashraf, M. & Naz, N. Anatomical adaptations to salinity in cogon grass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel] from the Salt Range, Pakistan. Plant Soil 322, 229–238 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9911-6

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