Plant growth, metabolism and adaptation in relation to stress conditions XII. Carbohydrate and acid accumulation in phaseolus vulgaris and zea mays stressed with sodium sulphate

Abstract

Phaseolus vulgaris and Zea mays seedlings and plants were cultured on quarter-strength Hoagland nutrient medium with or without increasing concentrations of Na^SO^. Sodium sulphate increased the levels of reducing sugars whereas sucrose and polysaccharides decreased in the treated seedlings, whole plants and leaves."<-ketoglularic and certain carboxylic acids of the Krebs cycle increased in all seedlings and plants in response to the various salt concentrations used, with the exception of puruvate,o(-ketoglutarate and succinate which decreased in the salinized Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings. The present results with Na;SO^ are discussed in relation to the effect of salinity in other plant species and appear to be broadly in agreement with those other studies.