Salt tolerance in seedlings of the mangrove cynometra iripa kostel.

ABSTRACT

Present paper describes the growth and ion contents from seedlings of the mangrove Cynometra iripa Kostel. over a range of salinity, using Nacl and Na2SO4 as the major ion in a soil culture. The seedlings of C. iripa grew well at salinity levels up to 0.1M NaCl and 0.1M Na2SO4 . Growth was inhibited at salinity levels above 0.2M NaCl and 0.2M Na2SO4. Chloride decreased in Na2 SO4 treated seedlings. Proline accumulation was found to be increased with salinity in both treatments. Higher activities of catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were noticed in seedlings. Effect of Cl salinity is more prominent than that of SO4 salinity. Chlorophylls, carotenoids, TAN, polyphenol and free amino acids contents are decreased after critical concentration 0.1M NaCl and Na2SO4.