Initial shoot development of sunflower under special saline conditions

Survival of seedlings and young plants is drastically reduced under salty conditions. Salinization of soils or irrigation water reduces vegetative and reproductive growth and therefore the yield of most cultivated plants. The effect of nutrient solutions, each one composed only of N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mn or B and supplemented with 0,50 or 100 mM NaCl solutions, on shoot (stem and leaves) development of sunflower seedlings was examined. Although shoot biomass from plants grown in each nutritive solution was reduced in the high salinity (100 mM) culture, Fe and P supply relieved salt damage in leaf area and shoot dry matter respectively. Stem length was adversely affected under all treatments but at 50 mM NaCl level, Fe, K and Mn improved leaf dry matter and led area, stem length and leaf dry matter respectively, whereas Fe supply ameliorated shoot biomass accumulation.