SALT TOLERANCE IN PASTURE GRASSES

Abstract

SUMMARY Samples of six species of grass from a salinized pasture were grown in culture solution with varying concentrations of sodium chloride added. The rates of root growth showed a high correlation with the conductivity of water extracts of the soils of origin. The results can be interpreted as evidence for strong selection for the appropriate level of response to salt at each point on the salinity gradient. Salt tolerance was found to be highly heritable in Festuca rubra.