Accumulation of myo -Inositol in Actinidia Seedlings Subjected to Salt Stress

Abstract

Seedlings of kiwifruit ( Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang et A. R. Ferguson var deliciosa ) and A. arguta (Sieb. et Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. grown in hydroponic nutrient solutions with elevated salt (MgSO 4 and KCl) concentrations showed visible signs of stress at salt concentrations of 50 m m and above. The polyol myo -inositol accumulated in leaf tissue when the salt was added to 15 m m or more, with increases being similar in the two species. The increase in concentration of myo -inositol was approximately linear with rising salt. At any given salt concentration an increase in myo -inositol was linear with time from application of salt. myo -Inositol concentrations increased within the first 24 h of salt treatment, and declined again as quickly once the stress was removed. Sucrose also increased with salt stress, accumulating only once plants showed physical signs of stress. Accumulation of myo -inositol was negatively correlated to fructose and glucose. Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company