Cellular causes for leaf elongation reductions under salinity in Panicum coloratum

CÁCERES, L ; TALEISNIK, E.

Sydney

Congreso; 22nd International Grasslands Congress; 2013

International Grasslands Association

Leaves in salinized P. coloratum plants were shorter than in non-salinized controls essentially because the number of cells in the meristem was negatively affected. This was partially due to a lower mitosis rate in that zone, and, additionally, perhaps fewer cells may have left the basal meristem to conform the leaf primordium. Though leaf elongation rates were lower in salt treated plants, cells remained longer in the expansion-only zone, which may have buffered in part the reduced leaf expansion rate. Mechanisms underlying the control of cell divisions and the prolongation of cell expansion duration are implied in the effects of soil salinity on leaf expansion in this species