Open Access

ARTICLE

Photosynthetic Behaviour and Mineral Nutrition of Tamarix gallica Cultivated Under Aluminum and NaCl Combined Stress

Dhouha Belhaj Sghaier¹, Insaf Bankaji¹, Sylvia Pedro², Isabel Caçador², Noomene Sleimi^1,*

1 LR. RME-Ressources, Matériaux et Ecosystèmes, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Jarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisie.
2 MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Portugal.

* Corresponding Author: Noomene Sleimi. Email: .

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2019, 88(3), 239-252. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2019.06887

Abstract

The lack of knowledge of plant tolerance and differential response to aluminum (Al) encouraged many researchers, in the last decade, to elucidate Al toxicity and tolerance mechanisms. The current study reported the impact of Al, a toxic element with negative effects on plant growth and development, in halophytic plant Tamarix gallica. Plants were subjected to different Al concentrations (0, 200, 500 and 800 μM) with or without NaCl (200 mM) supplementation. Growth, photosynthesis and mineral content were assessed. Al stress had a significant decrease on shoots’ biomass production between 19 to 41%, and a little variation on chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency (Fo, Fm, Fv fluorescence’s and Fv/Fm). Furthermore, the Al-treatments did not affect significantly the content of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in different plant parts, whereas NaCl addition to the medium induced a decrease in these elements’ concentrations. Our results have shown that T. gallica is able to accumulate the high levels of Al in shoots and roots, 6288 μg.g^-1 DW and 7834 μg.g^-1 DW respectively. It is considered as a hyperaccumulator plant of Al. In addition, Na⁺ contents in shoots and roots exceed 23000 μg.g^-1 DW. Therefore, T. gallica presents a high tolerance at the same time to Al and NaCl phytotoxicity, so it is interesting to use in phytoremediation programs.

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