Physiological and comparative proteomic analyses of saline-alkali NaHCO3-responses in leaves of halophyte Puccinellia tenuiflora

Aims Soil alkalization imposes severe ion toxicity, osmotic stress, and high pH stress to plants, inhibiting their growth and productivity. NaHCO3 is a main component of alkaline soil. However, knowledge of the NaHCO3-responsive proteomic pattern of alkaligrass is still lacking. Alkaligrass (Puccinellia tenuiflora) is a monocotyledonous halophyte pasture widely distributed in the Songnen Plain in Northeastern China. This study aims to investigate the NaHCO3-responsive molecular mechanisms in the alkaligrass plants.