Mechanisms of salt (NaCl) stress tolerance in horticultural crops - A mini review

Plants respond to soil salinity with reduced growth rates and depressed yields. Salt stress resistant plants are able to reduce the salt load in their cells by reduced uptake of sodium (Na) and chloride (CI) ions as well as reduced accumulation of these ions in the shoot system. Such plants are able to accumulate high amounts of the salts in the lower stem and root system. Resistant plant species tend to have reduced rate of translocation of ions from the root to shoot system, and to accumulate low amounts of salts in their tissues. Reduction in yield under salt stress conditions can be attributed to reduction in photosynthetic area as a result of leaf injury, induced nutrient deficiencies and physiological water stress. Plants accumulate higher amounts of Cl than Na under saline soil conditions, and hence salt injury can be attributed highly to Cl toxicity.