Abstract
Nicotiana rustica plants were grown under two grades of salinity conditions, 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl. High levels of NaCl added to the nutritive solution produced a progressive absorption of Na in detriment of K, thereby causing an ionic disequilibrium, particularly in leaves. The weight and longitudinal growth of plants grown under salinity conditions were lower than control plants, while their protein content was higher. Deficit of K induced by salinity increased the levels of free amino acids, especially of aspartic acid, glutamic acid and proline. On the other hand, the levels of nicotine in leaves of treated plants were lower than controls. In contrast, treatment of the plants with 100 mM NaCl induced in general an increase of nicotine in the roots. These results indicate that there was an unclear effect of salinity either on synthesis or on translocation of nicotine from roots to leves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ben Zioni A, Vaadia Y and Herman Lips S 1971 Nitrate uptake by roots as regulated by nitrate reduction products of the shoot. Physiol. Plant. 24, 288–290.
Besford R T 1978 Effect of sodium in the nutrient medium on the incidence of potassium deficiency symptoms in tomato plants. Plant and Soil 50, 427–432.
Bradford M M 1976 A rapid sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the pfinciple of protein-Dye Binding. Anal. Biochem. 72, 248–254.
Chu T M, Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1976 Stress metabolism. VII. Salinity and proline accumulation in barley. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 3. 219–228.
Evans H J and Sorger G J 1966 Role of mineral elements with emphasis on the univalent cations. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 17, 47–76.
Galston A W 1983 Polyamines as modulators of plant development. Bio Science 33, 382–388.
Greenway, H and Munns R 1980 Mechanism of salt tolerance in non-halophytes. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 31, 149–190.
Helal M, Koch K and Mengel K 1975 Effect of salinity and potassium on the uptake of nitrogen and on nitrogen metabolism in young barley plants. Physiol. Plant. 35, 310–313.
Langdale G N, Thomas J R and Littleton T G 1973 Nitrogen metabolism of stargrass as affected by nitrogen and soil salinity. Agron. J. 65, 468–470.
Mizusaki S, Tanabe Y, Noguchi M and Tamaki E 1973 Changes in the activities of ornithine decarboxilase putrescine N-methyl transferase and N-methylputrescine oxidase in tobacco roots in relation to nicotine biosynthesis. Plant Cell Physiol. 14, 103–110.
Schimd H and Serrano M 1948 Untersuchungen über die Nikotinbildung des Tabaks. Experientia 8, 11–12.
Steward C R and Lee J A 1974 The role of proline accumulation in halophytes. Planta 120, 279–289.
Van Loon L C and Van Kamen A 1968 Polyacrilamide disc electrophoresis of the soluble leaf proteins fromNicotiana tabacum var. ‘Samsum’ and ‘Samsum NA’. Phytochem. 7, 1727–1735.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cusido, R.M., Palazon, J., Altabella, T. et al. Effect of salinity on soluble protein, free amino acids and nicotine contents inNicotiana rustica L.. Plant Soil 102, 55–60 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370900
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370900