EFFECTS OF ISO-OSMOTIC NA⁺, CL^– AND NACL STRESS ON THE PLANT GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF GRAFTED CUCUMBER

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of iso-osmotic Na⁺, Cl^– and NaCl stress on the plant growth and physiological parameters of self grafted and Figleaf gourd grafted cucumber.
The results showed that, compared to non salt stress cucumber, Na⁺, Cl^– and NaCl stress significantly decreased the plant growth.
By comparison, less effect was induced by Cl-, and more effect was induced by Na⁺ and NaCl.
Compared to self-grafted cucumber, Figleaf gourd grafting significantly increased the tolerance of cucumber to Na⁺ and NaCl stress.
The shoot water content, Na⁺ content of root, K⁺, Ca²⁺ contents of stem and leaf, as well as leaf SOD activities were much higher in the Figleaf gourd grafted plants, while Na⁺ contents of stem and leaf were much lower than self-grafted cucumber under iso-osmotic Na⁺ and NaCl stress.
The above results suggested that the sensitivity of cucumber to Na+ and Cl- is different.
The toxicity induced by Na⁺ is much higher than Cl^–. The improved salt tolerance of cucumber by grafting onto Figleaf gourd was achieved mainly by higher accumulation of Na⁺ in the root, and limited Na⁺ transport to the shoot.
Thus, Na⁺ exclusion in the shoot plays a pivotal role in the salt tolerance of grafted cucumber.

I International Symposium on Vegetable Grafting

Y. Huang, L. Chen, A. Zhen, Z.X. Liu, B. Lei, Q.S. Kong , Z.L. Bie

grafting, cucumber, salt stress, sodium, physiological response

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1086.19