Salt Tolerance of Canola in Relation to Accumulation and Xylem Transportation of Cations

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in a greenhouse to evaluate the root and shoot response of canola (Brassica napus L.) to salt-stress conditions and the remobilization, deposition, and input rate of sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) at different salinity levels using two canola cultivars. A salt-tolerant (‘Kristina’) cultivar and a salt-sensitive (‘Hyola 308’) cultivar were grown in nutrient solutions with 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mol m⁻³ NaCl for 7 d. The plants were harvested after 6, 12, 18, and 24 h and 3 and 7 d after salt treatment. The results indicated that increasing salinity significantly decreased shoot and root weights 7 d after treatment. Also, K content and K-Na selectivity decreased in both cultivars, but the changes in ‘Hyola 308’ were greater than in ‘Kristina.’ Electrolyte leakage was increased significantly by salinity, and cell-membrane stability of ‘Hyola 308’ was damaged more than that of ‘Kristina’. Sodium import, transport, and deposition was increased by salinity concentration but remobilization was decreased. The K and Mg import, deposition, and remobilization were also decreased. From this experiment we can conclude that greater K and Mg remobilization in ‘Kristina’ could be a mechanism of salt tolerance in canola.

Keywords:

• canola
• electrolyte leakage
• proline
• remobilization
• salt stress

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute and Soil and Water Research Institute of the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture and Tarbiat Modarress University for supporting this work.