Salinity-induced ultrastructural alterations in leaf cells of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

High concentrations of NaCl significantly reduced the fresh and dry weights and lengths of roots and shoots. NaCl exhibited a more rapid effect in water culture than in soil culture. In both water and solid cultures, root growth was suppressed more severely than shoot growth. Electron microscopic studies revealed that NaCl caused swelling of thylakoids, accumulation of starch grains and lipid droplets, distortion of grana stacking, increase in the size and number of plastoglobuli and vesiculation of cellular membrane. Mitochondria became deficient in cristae, swelled and the matrix appeared pale in salt-treated plants as compared with control plants. Disappearance of nucleolus and nuclear chromatin and destruction of vascular tissues were occasionally observed in salt-treated plants.