Effect of potassium on uptake and translocation of sodium and potassium in Chinese cabbage under NaCl stress

Abstract

To investigate the influence of potassium (K⁺) on the salinity tolerance of Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis Rupr.) seedlings, the plants were cultured at three K⁺ levels (0, 5, or 10 mM), under normal (0 mM NaCl) and high-salt (100 mM NaCl) conditions. The results indicated that the dry weight of Chinese cabbage increased with the application of K⁺ under salt stress. Addition of K⁺ increased K⁺ concentrations and suppressed sodium (Na⁺) concentration, which eventually increased the K⁺/Na⁺ ratios in roots or shoots. Application of K⁺ enhanced the uptake of K⁺ and suppressed the uptake of Na⁺. Moreover, the ratios of shoot-K⁺/root-K⁺ increased considerably, but the ratios of shoot-Na⁺/root-Na⁺ decreased in response to K⁺ application. It was concluded that the application of K⁺ could enhance the salt stress tolerance in Chinese cabbage because more K⁺ than Na⁺ was absorbed and translocated from roots to shoots.

Keywords:

• Brassica pekinensis Rupr.
• K⁺/Na⁺ ratio
• potassium
• salinity
• uptake and translocation

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank LetPub for linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest (Project No. 201203013) under Grant, and the Science and Technology Plan Project of Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province (Project No. J13LF03) under Grant.