GROWTH OF WIRY WATTLE SEEDLINGS UNDER SALT STRESS

The experiment was conducted to observe the influence of Sea salt salinity (0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2% corresponding to ECiw of 0.6, 3.51, 5.24, 9.23, 12.81 and 16.67 dS.m-1 , respectively) on seedling growth and the physiological, biochemical and mineral parameters of growth in Acacia coriacea subsp. pendens. On average basis, 50% reduction in seedling growth performance in coastal sandy soil corresponded to ECiw: 14.94 ± 2.18 dS.m-1 . Phyllode concentrations of protein, total soluble sugars, proline and phenols increased significantly with the salt stress and the pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) concentrations posed a fluctuating behaviour. There was substantial increase in Na and Cl contents of phyllode (306.59 and 213.67 % over control, respectively) in extreme salinity of ECiw: 16.67 dS.m-1 . K contents declined under saline environment. K/Na ratio although declined in salinity treatments as compared to the control, it didn’t vary practically amongst the salinity treatments of ECiw: 3.51 to 16.67 dS.m-1 . The results are discussed in physiological context.