Osmotically active compounds and their localization in the marine halophyte eelgrass

Abstract

Contents of various organic and inorganic osmotica in the leaves, shoots and roots of Zostera marina L. were determined and their contributions to the osmotic adjustment to seawater were calculated. The inorganic ions, especially Na+, were the main osmotica. X-ray microanalysis indicated that vacuoles in the parenchymatous cells are the main sites in leaves accumulating toxic ions.