Welcome to Acta Prataculturae Sinica ! Today is Share:

Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 168-180.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024287

Previous Articles    

A study of salt tolerance differences in Cyperus esculentus at different growth stages in a sandy saline soil

Qing-qing ZHANG1,2,3,4(), Xing-yu MA1,2,3,4(), Yan LU1,2,3, Guang-Xing ZHAO1,2,3,4, Fan-jiang ZENG1,2,3(), Cai-bian HUANG1,2,3()   

  1. 1.Xinjiang Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration Laboratory,Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Urumqi 830011,China
    2.State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology,Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands,Urumqi 830011,China
    3.Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystem,Cele 848300,China
    4.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
  • Received:2024-07-17 Revised:2024-09-25 Online:2025-06-20 Published:2025-04-03
  • Contact: Fan-jiang ZENG,Cai-bian HUANG

Abstract:

This research investigated the effects of different NaCl concentrations on the growth and physiology of Cyperus esculentus at different growth stages, and comprised a pot experiment with a gradient of five different NaCl stress levels: 0 g·kg-1 (control), 0.5 g·kg-1 (mild), 1.0 g·kg-1 (moderate), 2.0 g·kg-1 (severe), and 3.5 g·kg-1 (saline soil) of added NaCl. The biomass accumulation, levels of osmotic adjustment substances and antioxidant enzyme activities of C. esculentus were then analyzed at the seedling stage and different tuber development stages, and salt tolerance in the different stages evaluated. It was found that mild salt stress seriously inhibited the aboveground and underground growth of C. esculentus at the seedling stage, and the biomass did not change significantly after salt stress. From the early stage to the late stage of tuber maturity, the aboveground and underground biomass was significantly lower with increase in salt stress, and growth ceased during the middle stage of tuber development in the severe and saline treatments. The contents of Na+ and Cl- increased significantly with increase in salt stress, while the K+∶Na+ ratio decreased. C. esculentus adapted to salt stress mainly through the accumulation of soluble protein, soluble sugar and betaine, and the increase of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity during the seedling stage and early tuber development. In the middle of the tuber development stage, a significant increase in SOD activity was the primary mechanism for alleviation of salt stress. In the late tuber stage, the acclimation to salt stress was through the accumulation of soluble protein and betaine and increased SOD activity. The salt tolerance of C. esculentus at the different growth stages ranked seedling stage>late tuber stage>middle tuber stage>early tuber stage. From a perspective of a multivariate analysis of plant traits, soil NaCl concentration≤1.0 g·kg-1 is recommended. The results of this study provide scientific data to aid development of practical guidelines for the large-scale planting of C. esculentus in sandy salinized land in Xinjiang Province.

Key words: Cyperus esculentus, salt stress, NaCl, growth and development, antioxidant enzymes, osmotic regulation