Characteristics of Na+and K+absorption inSuaeda salsa(L.) Pall.

While high Na accumulation in plant tissues plays an important role in osmoregulation and maintenance of water absorption for normal growth of Suaeda salsa, characteristics of Na and K absorption in S. salsa grown in such saline soils have not been elucidated. We thus examined Na and K absorption characteristics of S. salsa grown in nutrient solutions of graded sodium chloride (NaCl) with 1 mmol L−1 K or of graded potassium chloride (KCl) with 1 mmol L−1 Na. The K accumulation capacity in S. salsa plant tissues was greater than the Na accumulation capacity. Although Na showed no competitive effects on K absorption, K application suppressed Na absorption drastically.