Morphological changes of phytoliths in Leymus chinensis under saline-alkali stress

Aims Our objective is to study changes of phytoliths in Leymus chinensis quantitatively under saline-alkali stress to assist reconstruction of saline paleoenvironments. Methods We selected similarly sized leaves of L. chinensis under six different saline-alkali levels and extracted phytoliths with the wet ashing method. Important findings We identified and named 10 categories and 3 387 phytoliths: flat-topped rondel, peaked ron- del, barbed rondel, smooth elongate, sinus elongate, horn-ends elongate, pointed, plate, favose and other types. With increased salt concentration, rondel, elongate, pointed, plate and favose changed. The percentage of rondel increased in all groups. The same type of phytolith had differences in morphology and percentage among groups. All types of phytoliths increased in size with saline-alkali stress.