Co-Authors:
Plaut, Z., USDA, ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 4500 Glenwood Drive, Riverside, 92501, CA, United States
Grieve, C.M., USDA, ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 4500 Glenwood Drive, Riverside, 92501, CA, United States
Abstract:
The CO2 fixation rate of salt-stressed maize leaves was influenced by the Ca:Na ratio in the solution cultures. At an osmotic potential of -0.4 MPa in the root media, both the photosynthetic rate and the water-use efficiency declined as substrate Ca increased. Blade-Ca concentration also increased, while blade-Na and-Mg decreased. Apparently photosynthetic activity was inhibited in part by internal Mg deficiency rather than by Na toxicity or by Na-induced Ca deficiency. Reduction of the Ca:Mg ratio in the culture stimulated the CO2 fixation rate. © 1988 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.