Functional Aspects of the Salt Glands of the Plumbaginaceae

Abstract

X-ray microanalysis and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometry were used to determine the presence and ratios of elements in salt secretions from salt glands of greenhouse and experimentally-manipulated leaves of five species of the Plumbaginaceae Sodium, magnesium, silica, sulphur, phosphorus, chloride, potassium, calcium and carbonate were detected in secretions of greenhouse-grown plants. The salt glands of excised leaves challenged by solutions of KI, KCl, NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2 and MgSO4 secreted principally the ions of the challenging solutions.