Influence of salinity on growth and osmotic relations of Sporobolus ioclados

Sporobolus ioclados (Nees ex Trin.) Nees (Poaceae) is a perennial salt secreting grass distributed from coastal sand dunes and marshes of the Arabian Sea to saline flats throughout the Indus basin in Pakistan. Effects of NaCl on growth, water relations and ion accumulation were studied. Plants were grown in 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM NaCl in sand culture using subirrigation method. Fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots were highest in non-saline control. Increase in salinity inhibited growth and plants had high mortality at 500 mM NaCl. Tissue water decreased with an increase in salinity. Water and osmotic potential decreased with increase in salinity and plants lost turgor. Stomatal conductance progressively decreased with the increase in salinity. Shoot ion content was low and showed little variation with increase in salinity.