Photosynthetica 2009, 47(4):517-526 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0077-5

Effects of salt stress on photosynthesis, PSII photochemistry and thermal energy dissipation in leaves of two corn (Zea mays L.) varieties

H. Hichem1,*, A. El Naceur2, D. Mounir3
1 Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF): Unité d'Expérimentations Agricoles, Oued Souhail, Nabeul, Tunisia
2 Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
3 Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia

The effect of four different NaCl concentrations (from 0 to 102 mM NaCl) on seedlings leaves of two corn (Zea mays L.) varieties (Aristo and Arper) was investigated through chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic pigments concentration, tissue hydration and ionic accumulation. Salinity treatments showed a decrease in maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) in dark-adapted leaves. Moreover, the actual PSII efficiency (ϕPSII), photochemical quenching coefficient (qp), proportion of PSII centers effectively reoxidized, and the fraction of light used in PSII photochemistry (%P) were also dropped with increasing salinity in light-adapted leaves. Reductions in these parameters were greater in Aristo than in Arper. The tissue hydration decreased in salt-treated leaves as did the photosynthesis, stomatal conductance (g s) and photosynthetic pigments concentration essentially at 68 and 102 mM NaCl. In both varieties the reduction of photosynthesis was mainly due to stomatal closure and partially to PSII photoinhibition. The differences between the two varieties indicate that Aristo was more susceptible to salt-stress damage than Arper which revealed a moderate regulation of the leaf ionic accumulation.

Additional key words: chlorophyll fluorescence; photosynthesis; ion accumulation; salinity; Zea mays L.

Received: May 22, 2009; Accepted: October 9, 2009; Published: December 1, 2009  Show citation

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Hichem, H., El Naceur, A., & Mounir, D. (2009). Effects of salt stress on photosynthesis, PSII photochemistry and thermal energy dissipation in leaves of two corn (Zea mays L.) varieties. Photosynthetica, 47(4), 517-526. doi: 10.1007/s11099-009-0077-5
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