biologia plantarum

International journal on Plant Life established by Bohumil Němec in 1959

Biologia plantarum 52:72-79, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0010-y

Osmotic versus toxic effects of NaCl on pepper plants

C. Silva1, V. Martínez1, M. Carvajal1,*
1 Departamento de Nutrición Vegetal, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, CSIC, Murcia, Spain

Water relations, mineral composition, growth and root morphology were studied in pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv California Wonder). Two NaCl concentrations (30 and 60 mM) and two nutrient solutions in which the concentrations of macronutrients were increased were used to assess the ionic and osmotic effects of NaCl in these plants. The hydraulic conductivity (Lo), stomatal conductance (gs), percentage of open stomata and pressure potential (Ψp) decreased with all treatments, in a similar way for 30 mM NaCl and for its iso-osmotic solution of macronutrients, however, the decrease was higher for 60 mM NaCl than for its iso-osmotic solution. Ion analyses also revealed that nutrient concentrations were altered greatly at 60 mM NaCl. Also, changes in morphology, such as increases in cortex cell size and in intercellular spaces, were detected. Therefore, at low salinity, the effect of NaCl was mainly osmotic, however, under higher salinity also the toxicity of Na+ and Cl- participate.

Keywords: anions; Capsicum annuum; cations; hydraulic conductivity; morphology; osmotic potential; pressure potential; stomatal conductance; water potential; water uptake
Subjects: Capsicum annuum; hydraulic conductivity; osmotic potential; pepper; pressure potential; root hydraulic conductance; stomatal conductance; water potential; water uptake

Received: May 16, 2006; Accepted: December 17, 2006; Published: March 1, 2008  Show citation

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Silva, C., Martínez, V., & Carvajal, M. (2008). Osmotic versus toxic effects of NaCl on pepper plants. Biologia plantarum, 52(1), 72-79. doi: 10.1007/s10535-008-0010-y
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