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GROWTH AND SELECTIVE ION TRANSPORT OF LIMONIUM STOCKSII PLUMBAGINACEA UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

SABAHAT ZIA^1,3, TODD P. EGAN² AND M. AJMAL KHAN^1,3

Abstract: Limonium stocksii is a perennial forb found on the Arabian Sea coast near Karachi, Pakistan. Plants were grown in plastic pots using sub-irrigation under natural conditions. Growth parameters and plant succulence were highest at 0 and 10 dS m-1 salinity (both NaCl and seawater). An increase in growth medium salinity progressively decreased growth, but plants survived in up to 60 dS m-1. No significant difference was observed between NaCl and seawater treatments. Succulence did not change at low salinity (10 dS m-1), however, a further increase in salinity substantially decreased tissue water content. Plants accumulated high quantities of Na+ and Cl- with the induction of salinity in the medium. The selective transport capacity of L. stocksii for Na+ over other elements increased with an increase in salinity in both root and stem, however, roots displayed lower selective ion transport capacity compared to stem.

¹Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan,
²Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Elmira College, One Park Place, Elmira, New York 14901, USA
³Address for correspondence: Phone: (92-21) 770-0930; ajmalk@super.net.pk