Abstract:

Variance of ion contents in different salt tolerance maize cultivars under NaCl stress was compared, which provided theoretical basis of salinity tolerance screening in maize. Maize (Zea mays L.) seed of a salt tolerant cultivar ‘Zhengdan958’ and a salt sensitive ‘Qidan1’ were germinated and growth in sand with 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.0% NaCl, respectively. The contents of Na+, K+, Ca2+ in roots, shoots and leaves were measured. Variance between varieties and NaCl concentration was a significant level on the contents of Na+, K+, Ca2+. Na+ contents of 2 maize varieties increased in roots, shoots and leaves, and Na+ content in roots was much higher compared to shoots and leaves under NaCl stress, and Na+ content in roots of ‘Zhengdan958’ was more than ‘Qidan1’. The contents of K+, Ca2+ decreased with NaCl treatment. Under severe salt stress, K+ content of ‘Zhengdan958’ decreased dramatically in roots, while K+ content of ‘Zhengdan958’ in shoots was lower than t ‘Qidan1’. Ca2+ content of shoots and leaves in ‘Zhengdan958’ reduced slower than ‘Qidan1’. The differences of the contents of ions between two cultivars were significant, which could be used as indexes for salinity tolerance identification and screening of maize.