Effects of saline-alkaloid stress on the seedling growth and physiological characteristics of Elytrigia repens

Soil salinization is a serious worldwide problem which causes heavy losses of agriculture production. Plants with higher salt tolerance has been considered as a best way to control the saline soil. In the present study, the effects of saline-alkaloid stress on growth including the survival rate, plant height and biomass and biochemistry including chlorophyll, proline, soluble sugar, MDA and SOD activities of Elytrigia repens new variety “Nong Jing No.7” were studied. The results showed that the survival rate, plant height and biomass of E. repens decreased under saline-alkaloid stress. The survival rate significantly decreased (P<0.05) under treatment over 80 mmol·L-1 concentration of saline-alkaloid. There was a very significant negative relationship (P<0.01) between saline-alkaloid concentration and plant height and biomass. The chlorophyll content increased and then decreased with saline-alkaloid concentration increased which reached peak under treatment of 80 mmol·L-1. The contents of soluble sugar and MDA and SOD activities increased with saline-alkaloid concentration increased. All these results showed that saline-alkaloid stress had negative effect on the seedling growth of E. repens, and the physiological and biochemical indexes of E. repens changed to adapt to the saline-alkaloid environment.