Effect of calcium against salinity-induced inhibition in growth, ion accumulation and proline contents in Cichorium intybus L.

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the effect of NaCl (80 and 160 mM) and CaCl2 (10 mM) solutions, alone and in combination, to 30-day-old seedlings of Cichorium intybus L. Observations were made at 30 day intervals from the time of treatment till harvest (180 days after sowing). Application of NaCl resulted in significant decreases in lengths of root and stem, in dry weights of root, stem and leaves and in the leaf area, as compared with control. The reduction was less with the combined application of NaCl and CaCl2 than with the NaCl treatment alone. On the contrary, treatment of CaCl2 alone promoted the above variables. Proline content in the leaves was enhanced with NaCl and CaCl2 alone as well as with the NaCl + CaCl2 treatments; the maximum (six-fold) enhancement was observed with the combined treatments, compared with NaCl (four-fold increase) and CaCl2 (two-fold increase) alone. The sodium (Na+) and Chloride (Cl) contents in different plant parts increased both with NaCl and with NaCl + CaCl2 treatments. The maximum accumulation was observed in leaves, followed by that in stem and root. The potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca2+) contents decreased under NaCl stress, but increased with CaCl2 treatment. Thus, calcium ameliorated the deleterious effects of NaCl stress and stimulated the plant metabolism and growth.