Effects of the timing of calcium application on the alleviation of salt stress in the maize, tall fescue, and reed canarygrass seedlings

Calcium chloride (0.3 or 10 mM) was applied to the growth medium before, together with, or after sodium chloride application, and the effect of the timing of Ca application on the alleviation of salt stress was investigated. Seedlings of maize, tall fescue, and reed canarygrass were grown in medium with 0 and 200 mM NaCl for 5 d. Regardless of the plant species the maximum alleviation of NaCl stress was achieved when CaCl2 and NaCl coexisted in the growth medium. The effects of Ca application were connected with the decrease in the Na content in the plant roots and shoots and increased ATPase activity in the roots.