PLANT-GROWTH METABOLISM AND ADAPTION IN RELATION TO STRESS CONDITIONS.16. SALINITY AND HORMONE INTERACTIONS IN AFFECTING GROWTH, TRANSPIRATION AND IONIC RELATIONS OF PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS

Addition of either abscisic acid (ABA) or kinetin at 10(-6) M to salin ized media (20 - 120 mM NaCl) induced remarkable effects on growth of Phaseolus vulgaris plants. Whereas ABA inhibited the plant growth and the rate of transpiration, kinetin induced stimulation of both paramet ers. Moreover, ABA increased proline and phosphorus concentrations in the salinized plants whilst kinetin decreased them. ABA induced stimul ation of the transport of K, Ca and Cl from root to shoot, accumulatio n of K, Na and Cl in root cells and inhibits the transport of Na and a ccumulation of Ca. Kinetin appeared to inhibit the transport and accum ulation of Na and Cl, transport of K, and stimulates the accumulation of K and Ca as well as the transport of Ca. The highest influence of b oth ABA and kinetin was mostly observed when these hormones were used in combination with the highest concentration of NaCl (120 mM) in the medium.