Effects of Salt Stress on the Morphology, Growth and Physiological Parameters of Juglans microcarpa L. Seedlings

Abstract

In this study, to screen for walnut salt-tolerant rootstocks, Juglans microcarpa L. seedlings were treated in different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mmol/L), and the growth situation of seedlings was observed. Moreover, we determined the physiological indexes of seedlings on different days (6, 12, 18, and 24 d) after treatment. The results showed that after salt stress, the external morphology of seedlings displayed salt injury, which manifested as yellowing, withering, curling, and falling off of leaves. High concentrations and long-term stress led to more serious damage, with numerous leaves undergoing withering and shedding. Salt stress significantly inhibited the growth of seedlings. With the increase in salt concentration and stress time, the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters of seedlings reduced to varying degrees; the relative electrical conductivity (REC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities generally increased, followed by a decrease; proline (Pro) accumulated; and soluble sugar (SS) content first increased and then decreased. In addition, it promoted the production of abscisic acid (ABA) and inhibited the synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid 3 (GA3), and zeatin riboside (ZR). It was found that J. microcarpa L. seedlings were more tolerant under 100 mmol/L salt stress, whereas the damage to growth was more severe at 200 mmol/L to 300 mmol/L salt stress.