Three species of Chenopodiaceae, i.e. Suaeda japonica, Salicomia herbacea, Beta vulgaris var. cicla, were investigated to compare the physiological characteristics through ionic balances and osmoregulations under different environmental salt gradients...
Three species of Chenopodiaceae, i.e. Suaeda japonica, Salicomia herbacea, Beta vulgaris var. cicla, were investigated to compare the physiological characteristics through ionic balances and osmoregulations under different environmental salt gradients. Plants were harvested in two weeks from treatments with salt gradients(0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mM NaCl) and mineral nutrition gradients(1/1, l/5, 1/10 dilutions of Hoagland solution). Plants were analyzed for growth responses, ionic balances, osmolalities, conductivities, glycinebetaine and proline contents quantitatively. Three plants of Chenopodiaceae accumulated salts into tissues unlike some salt sensitive species, and showed unique adaptation patterns to overcome saline environments, i.e. strong growth stimulation for Salicomia herbacea, growth negative tolerance for Suaeda japonica, and growth positive tolerance for Beta vulgaris var cicla. The absorption of inorganic $Ca^{2+}$ ions was inhibited remarkably due to the excess uptake of $Na^+$ with increasing salinity. The $K^+$ content in plants was significantly reduced with increasing salinity. Total nitrogen content was reduced as mineral nutritions and salinity increases. Conductivity and osmolality increased with increasing salinity regardless of mineral nutritions. The ranges of glycinebetaine and proline contents were $0.2{\sim}2.5{\mu}M/g$ plant water and $0.1{\sim}0.6{\mu}M/g$ plant water, respectively.