Effects of Supplemental Calcium on Ion Accumulation, Transport and Plant Growth of Salt Sensitive Brassica Rapa Landrace

Effects of three supplemental calcium (Ca++; 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mole m-3) concentrations on ion accumulation, transport, selectivity, and plant growth of salt-sensitive species, Brassica rapa 'Sani' in saline medium were investigated. Supplemental Ca++ in the presence of 125 mol m-3 sodium chloride (NaCl) did not improve the dry weight and leaf area indicating no role played by Ca++ in the alleviation of salinity induced growth inhibition. However, calcium chloride (CaCl2) did significantly affect sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and Ca++ contents of roots and shoots. The ion contents of shoots were significantly greater than those of roots per g dry weight, indicating ion transportation to shoots is greater than ion accumulation in roots. Use of CaCl2 in 125 mol m-3 NaCl reduced the Na+ content but increased K+ and Ca++ contents in shoots. Sodium contents in shoots differed among the supplemental Ca++ treatments indicating the role of CaCl2 in Na+ ions transportation. Calcium content in shoots declined significantly in the control treatment (0 CaCl2) but increased significantly in 10 mol m-3 CaCl2. The root also showed the effects of Ca++ on the reduction of Na+ content and the increase of K+ and Ca++ content. Unexpectedly, 5 mol m-3 CaCl2 induced the highest Na+ content in roots at 16 days after treatment. Supplemental CaCl2 application influenced the K+ or Ca++ selectivity over Na+ in two ways, ion accumulation at roots and transport to shoots. However, high CaCl2 treatments allowed greater Ca++ selectivity over Na+ than low CaCl2. Likewise, high supplemental CaCl2 showed higher K+ selectivity over Na+ than low CaCl2. A marked increase in K+ versus Na+ selectivity for the transport process occurred at 10 mol m-3 CaCl2 treatments. The roots and shoots exhibited higher K+/Na+ and Ca++/Na+ ratios in high CaCl2 treatment than in low. The results are discussed in context to supplemental Ca++ concentrations, ions accumulation, transportation and selectivity of salt sensitive Brassica rapa cultivar.