Investigation of the effects of salt (NaCl) stress and cadmium (cd) toxicity on growth and mineral acquisition of Vuralia turcica

The effects of increasing concentrations of salt (NaCl) and cadmium (Cd) on shoot weight and shoot mineral content was investigated in Vuralia turcica, which is endemic to Turkey. In the present study, tolerance mechanisms to salt and Cd stress of V. turcica were examined. Plants were grown in calcareous soil, which has low organic content (1.03%) and high pH (8.4), and treated with increasing NaCl (0, 1000, and 2000 ppm) and Cd (0, 5, 25, and 50 ppm) with four replicates for a month under greenhouse conditions. The shoots of each plant were harvested and analyzed for mineral element content as well as the activities of antioxidative enzymes. Cd and Na concentrations of V. turcica were increased by enhanced NaCl and Cd supply. Increasing NaCl supply reduced the dry weight of shoots of V. turcica. Supplying a low concentration (5 ppm) of Cd increased dry weight, whereas 25 and 50 ppm Cd decreased dry weight. No visual symptoms were observed on leaves exposed to both salt and Cd stress. The activities of antioxidative defense enzymes were similar in both stress conditions when compared to non-stressed control groups.