The effect of a short period of saline stress was studied in two pheno
typically different cultivars, one of normal fruit-size (L. esculentum
cv. New Yorker) and one of cherry fruit-size (L. esculenturn var, cer
asiforme cv. PE-62). In both cultivars the relative growth rate (RGR)
and the leaf area ratio (LAR) decreased following salinisation. The le
af turgor potential (psi(p)) and the osmotic potential at full turgor
(psi(os),,) decreased to the same extent in both cultivars. However, t
he contributions of organic and inorganic solutes to the osmotic adjus
tment was different between cultivars. New Yorker achieved the osmotic
adjustment by means of the Cl- and Na+ uptake from the substrate, and
by synthesis of organic solutes. In the cherry cultivar organic solut
es did not contribute to the osmotic adjustment, instead, their contri
bution decreased after salinisation. After the salt stress was removed
, the water stress disappeared, the content of organic solutes decreas
ed in plants of both cultivars and, therefore, their growth was not re
tarded by the diversion of resources for the synthesis of organic solu
tes. However, the toxic effects of the Cl- and Na+ did not disappear a
fter removal of the salt stress, and the net assimilation rate (NAR) a
nd the rate of growth (RGR) did not recover.