EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON GROWTH AND METABOLISM OF PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS

Increasing salinity induced a marked reduction in the plant growth, th ough Phaseolus seedlings tolerated salinity up to 120 mM NaCl. A great reduction in sugar and protein contents occurred with increasing sali nity, whereas soluble nitrogen compounds and the relative contents of the photosynthetic pigments were increased in the treated plants. Incr easing Ca concentration in the salinized medium appeared to improve th e plant growth and to increase the contents of saccharides and protein s in the NaCl-treated plants. This suggests that Ca could be added to salinized media to overcome the deleterious effects of salinity on the growth and productivity of leguminous crop plants.