Effects of salinity on ion transport and anatomical structure in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Kanchan)

Salinity caused a 4.5- to 9.3-fold increase in Na+ and a 1.6- to 2.8-fold i ncrease in Cl- accumulation with concomitant inhibition of K+ (82%) accumul ation in the root of triticum aestivum I. Cv. Kanchan. Similarly, an increa se in Na+ and Cl- accumulation with concomitant decrease in K+ uptake was o bserved in shoot under salinity. Epidermal cells became thickened in plants grown under the saline condition. In the stem, salinity reduced the number of vascular bundles in the ground tissue, and metaxylem and protoxylem ele ments became disorganized and deformed in shape while in nontreated seedlin gs those were spherical and organized. Due to salinity seedlings were with smaller root diameter, with reduction in cell size in cortex and also a red uction in vascular elements. The relationship between anatomical structure and ion transport has been discussed.