INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF CA2-TIP OF SORGHUM-BICOLOR( AND NACL SALINITY ON THE IONIC RELATIONS AND PROLINE ACCUMULATION IN THE PRIMARY ROOT)

The effects of supplemental Ca2+ supply and NaCl salinity on the ionic relations and levels of proline and other amino acids in the primary root of Sorghum bicolor (cv. Hegari) seedlings were investigated. Two days of exposure to 150 mM NaCl resulted in a 50-fold increase in the proline level in the 0-10 mm root tips of seedlings supplied with 5.0 mM Ca2+, but only a 4-fold increase in seedlings with 0.5 mM Ca2+. In contrast to the high levels of proline in the root tip, proline accumu lation was only modest in the expanded tissues of the root. The enhanc ement of proline accumulation in the root tip of salinized seedlings w ith the Ca2+ supplement may be related to their more favorable tissue K to Na ratio. Thus, elevated Ca2+ may mitigate the NaCl-induced inhib ition of S. bicolor root growth via the maintenance of net K to Na sel ectivity and the enhancement of proline accumulation in the root tip.