SODIUM-CHLORIDE STRESS ON ORGANIC-CONSTITUENTS OF SESUVIUM-PORTULACASTRUM L, A SALT-MARSH HALOPHYTE

Certain organic constituents, amino acids, protein, proline, glycinebe taine, sugars, and starch in the leaves of Sesuvium portulacastrum, wh ich was grown under varying levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) was deter mined. Total amino acids lowered at increasing levels of NaCl while th e protein content increased moderately up to 600 mM and thereafter inc reased and decreased, respectively; however, 600 mM level of NaCl sign ificantly differed from the untreated control plants. The concentratio n of total sugars declined with the increasing levels of exogenous add ition of NaCl up to 600 mM. Starch content increased significantly up to 600 mM NaCl and thereafter declined slightly. Proline and glycinebe taine contents were accumulated with the corresponding increase of sal inization.