Physiological and anatomical responses of Phyllostachys vivax and Arundinaria fortunei (Gramineae) under salt stress

This research was conducted in order to study salt tolerance of Phyllostachys vivax McClure and Arundinaria fortunei (Van Houtte) Riviere et C. Riviere. The effects of salinity stress on growth parameters, anatomical changes, and ion accumulation from two 1-year-old bamboo species under different salt treatments were investigated. The growths of P. vivax and A. fortunei were not severely inhibited when salt content was lower than 0.42%. Their structural properties of vascular tissue were affected, and both species showed decreases in vessel diameters and a higher vessel density under salt stress, but they could still maintain relatively stable anatomical structure in saline soils. Besides, the results indicated that Na+ accumulation progressively increased for organs as salinity levels increased. In particular, the accumulation of Na+ in underground organs was obviously higher than those in culms and leaves. The levels of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in salt-stressed cells gradually decreased in response to the increase of Na+. Overall, we concluded that P. vivax and A. fortunei had the ability to withstand salt stress.