Effects of sodium chloride treatments on growth and ion accumulation of the halophyte Haloxylon recurvum

Effects of increasing salt concentrations 0, 180, 360 mol m(-3) sodium chloride (NaCl), on growth, succulence, mineral composition, and glycinebetaine content in Haloxylon recurvum was investigated. Fresh and dry weight of plants increased with an increase in salinity. Succulence of shoots increased at low salinity and decreased at high salinity. Root and shoot Ca+, Mg+, and K+ content decreased with increasing salinity while both Na+ and Cl- content increased, reaching 4,900 and 5,300 mmol kg(-1) dry weight, respectively. Clycinebetaine (mol m(-3) tissue water) significantly increased in shoots at 360 mol m(-3) NaCl, but did not differ significantly in roots treated with from 0 to 360 mol m(-3) NaCl. Haloxylon recurvum is a highly salt tolerant stem succulent plant which accumulate a high quantity of salt, which makes it a good candidate to use for phytoremediation in highly saline areas of the sub-tropics.