The effects of NaCl on a native boreal nitrogen-fixing shrub: Elaeagnus commutata (wolf willow)
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Date
2016
Authors
Shao, Jianfei
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Abstract
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that reduces the growth and survival of most plants. In
Canada, elevated levels of NaCl pose reclamation challenges for habitats disturbed by the oil sand industry. I examined the salt tolerance of Elaeagnus commutata (wolf willow), a native nitrogen fixing boreal shrub that has potential for land reclamation, by conducting greenhouse hydroponics experiments with seedlings (uninoculated or inoculated with Frankia), exposed to 0,50 and 100 mM NaCl for 12 weeks. All plants survived 100 mM NaCl, suggesting that E.commutata is a moderately salt tolerant plant. Despite reductions in performance of salt stressed seedlings, they were still able to maintain relatively high levels of physiological activities and shoot/root growth. Plant mostly maintained nutritional balance even with elevated levels of Na+ and Cl- in their tissues. However, salinity inhibited root nodule formation and severely reduced root nitrogen fixation. To confirm the suitability of E. commutata as a potential species for saline land reclamation, field studies should be conducted.
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Keywords
Wolf Willow, Nitrogen Fixation, Elaeagnus commutata, NaCl, Root nodulation, Land reclamation, Plant stress physiology, Salinity stress, Greenhouse, Frankia symbiosis, Actinorhizal plants, Ionic stress, Osmotic Stress