Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning, Canning Town, 743329
A study to know the mechanism of salt tolerance was carried out in Acanthus ilicifolius L., a halophytic sp. occurring mostly in mangrove forests. Acanthus ilicifolius has epidermal salt glands on the adaxial leaf surface, through which excess amountof toxic elements are excreted. With increase in soil salinity sodium and chloride excretion increased gradually, along with the tissue mineral concentration. Though biomass production decreased signiicantly at higher salinity levels but at moderate level (ECe 8.30 dSm−1) it produced biomass exactly double that of control. Moisture status gradually decreased with the increase in soil salinity. There was no change in osmotic potential upto ECe 13.20 dSm−1 but after that there was a definite increase.
