*Present address: Head of Division, Plant Physiology & Microbiology, National Research Centre for Groundnut, Junagadh-362002 (Gujarat).
Summary The pH of cell sap, carbonic anhydrase, nitrate reductase, stomatal number and the thickness of roots were measured at ESP 10 (normal) and ESP SO with a view to examine their consortium with salt resistance in four known alkali halophytes, viz., Desmostachya bipinnata, Spombolus marginatus, Panicum antidotale and Bracharia mutica. Three glycophytes, viz., wheat (CV HD 4502 and HD 4530), barley (CV Vijay and K 65) and bajra (CV HB-3 and BJ 104) were used as check plants for concordance. The activity of nitrate reductase at higher ESP level declined significantly in the halophytes similar to that of glycophytes. For stomatal number and the diameter of roots the alkali halophytes resembled to that of wheat, barley and bajra. In marked contrast to this, the pH of cell sap and carbonic anhydrase at ESP 10 and 90 differed insignificantly in alkaii halophytes whereas in glycophytes the reverse was true. Based on destitute variatations, the CA and the pH of cell sap may be considered as alkali resistant plant attributes.
