In:
Functional Plant Biology, CSIRO Publishing, Vol. 25, No. 5 ( 1998), p. 609-
Abstract:
Changes in the bioelectric activity of maize leaves caused by a single light
pulse (6 s; 70 mol m-2 s-1) were used to compare the effects of NaCl treatment (20–200 mM) on plant
growth, Na+ accumulation in leaves, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment composition. Bioelectric responses seemed to be the
most sensitive indicator of NaCl effects. Even the weakest salt treatment (20 mM) caused a statistically significant decrease (about 40%) in the
amplitude of the bioelectric response. The higher the NaCl concentration, the smaller was the amplitude. Over the full concentration range, the
characteristic time of response increased from about 30 to 60 sec, indicating that the rate of bioelectric changes was slowed by increasing salinity.
Other reliable characteristics were found to be the fluorescence yield and quenching coefficients. The
Fv/Fm ratio was not significantly affected by NaCl treatment. Changes in growth
rate, biomass or pigment composition were either insensitive, or showed a plateau over a wide range of NaCl concentrations, and were inappropriate for
screening. A possible link between bioelectric and fluorescence characteristics is discussed. We conclude that leaf bioelectric activity can
be used together with, or instead of, chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, to screen genotypes for salt tolerance.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1445-4408
Language:
English
Publisher:
CSIRO Publishing
Publication Date:
1998
SSG:
12
