Physiological and ecological characters studies on Aloe vera under soil salinity and seawater irrigation

Experiments were conducted in two Aloe vera cultivars (170 and F50) to study the characters of physiology and ecology under salt stress. The results indicate decreases in tissue water, total soluble sugars and glucose, and increases in dry matter and membrane injury occurred both in F0 and F50 irrigated with 60% seawater. Less cell membrane injury were observed in F50. Moreover, total soluble sugars in F0 decreased obviously, however, no significant change in F50, while sucrose in plants had no significant change. Furthermore, F0 and F50 accumulated more inorganic cations in stems and roots. In addition, leaf K+ and Ca2+ contents were more in F50 than that in F0 to maintain normal plant growth though accumulation of Na+. F50 had a relative superiority in growth under salinity conditions due to higher K+/Na+ ratio and lower Na+/Ca2+ ratio than F0. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.