Effects of salt stress on nitrogen fixation, oxygen diffusion, and ion distribution in soybean, common bean, and alfalfa

Abstract

The exposure of legume nodulated‐roots to 100 mM NaCl resulted in a rapid decrease in plant growth associated with a short‐term inhibition of both nodule growth and nitrogenase activity (C₂H₂ reduction=ARA). However, these NaCl effects varied among species, common bean being more sensitive than soybean and alfalfa. The higher sensitivity of common bean was associated with a higher accumulation of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) in the nodules and only a small difference between salt‐treated and control plants of common bean in their responses of ARA to raising rhizosphere pO₂. By contrast, soybean and alfalfa plants showed a higher stimulation of ARA by pO₂ for the salt‐treatment than for the control. It is concluded that the intraspecific variation in short‐term inhibition of ARA by salt may involve the regulation of O₂ diffusion and the distribution of ions in nodules.