Cotton Science   2005£¬17(5)£º309-313

 

Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Salt Injury and Salt Tolerance in Cotton
XIN Cheng-song, DONG He-zhong, TANG Wei, WEN Si-min
(Cotton Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji'nan 250100£¬China)ª¤

Abstract: Salinity is a big threat to cotton production. Salt stress leads to a series of physiological and biochemical decompensation in cotton plants through osmotic effects (dehydration), nutritional imbalance and toxicity of salt ions (Na+ and Cl-), and finally results in depressed plant growth, lint yield and quality. However, cotton plants usually exhibit a relatively high tolerance to salt stress via several mechanisms that include protection of cytoplasmic membrance from oxidative damage by saltª²induced higher levels of antioxidants, saltª²inhanced synthesis of organic solutes like proline, glucose, amino acid to mantain water potential, and efficient ion compartmentation and redistribution in organs, tissues or within a cell. Genes encoding proteins like LEA (late embryogenesis abundance) protein and Na+/H+ antiporter, might be involved in the defence system.
Key words: cotton; salt injury; salt tolerance; physiological and molecular mechanism