Lecture No: 31

Low light and UV radiation stresses - Salt stress

- Physiological changes and alleviation.

Dr. T. Sivakumar,
Assistant Professor (Crop Physiology)

III. LOW LIGHT STRESS

In some places (e.g. Thanjavur), the light intensity 60000 lux
(first season) but in the second season it will be 30000 lux causing very
poor productivity. Light quality is also very poor by showing about 400440nm instead of the normal 600-640nm. The abnormal light intensity
and quality causes reduced yield in any crops. In general, 1% reduction in
ozone (O3) causes 2% increase in UV radiation

IV. UV-RADIATION STRESS

UV radiation is divided into three categories
UV A wavelength ranges from 320 to 400 nm and this is less lethal to the plants.
UV B wavelength ranges from 280 to 320 nm and this is lethal to the plants.
UV C wavelength is less than 280 nm and it is highly lethal to all biological systems.
UV C

UV B UV A

320
280 300

UV region

400

500

600

PAR region

700

UV RADIATION AND PLANT RESPONSE

UV radiation slows down the growth of plants

Damage the process of photosynthesis

Prevent maturation and ripening process

Accelerate genetic mutation.

V. SALT STRESS
Cause

excess salt accumulation in the soil

Process

exosmosis

Impact

Physiological drought

CLASSIFICATION OF SALINE SOIL

Parameters

Saline soil*

Alkaline soil (sodic soil)**

electrical conductivity (dS/m)

greater than 4

less than 4

exchangeable sodium percentage

less than 15%

greater than 15%

pH

less than 8.5

greater than 8.5

*Saline soil - dominated by Cl- and SO2-4 ions

**Alkaline soil - dominated by CO-3 and HCO-3 ions

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
1. Halophytes

Euhalophytes: can tolerate extreme salt stress

Oligohalophytes: can tolerate moderate salt stress

2. Glycophytes - cannot grow under high salt concentration

EFFECT OF SALT STRESS ON PLANT GROWTH AND YIELD

Seed germination - delays seed germination

Seedling growth - early seedling growth is more sensitive

Vegetative growth - high temperature and low humidity leads high

transpiration rate and more uptake of salt

4. Reproductive stage - affects panicle initiation, spikelet formation,

fertilization and pollen grain germination
5. Photosynthesis - declines photosynthetic process due to Thylakoid
damage and reduced chlorophyll b content

MECHANISM OF SALT TOLERANCE

Some plants are able to maintain high water potential by reducing the
transpiration rate.
Salts are accumulated in stem and older leaves in which metabolic
processes take place in a slower rate.
Na+ (sodium ion) toxicity is avoided by accumulating high amount of K+
ions.
Accumulation of toxic ions in the vacuole but not in the cytoplasm.
Accumulation of proline and abscissic acid which are associated with
tolerance of the plants to salt.

RELATIVE SALT TOLERANT CROPS

Tolerant crops: Cotton, sugar cane, barley

Semi tolerant crops: Rice, maize, wheat, oats, sunflower, soybean

Sensitive crops: Cow pea, beans, groundnut and grams

MANAGEMENT OF SALT STRESS

Leaching of salts with adequate water
Application gypsum
to convert the highly injurious
carbonates to less injurious sulphate
Selection of salt tolerant crops
Use of FYM and other organic manures