Salt Stress Effect on the Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Three New Varieties of Lagerstroemia indica

[...]different plants have different tolerance and response to salt stress, and the selection and popularization of salt-tolerant plants is one of the most rapid and economic measures for the improvement and utilization of large-area of saline-alkali soil. [...]the screening of salttolerant plants is of great significance to the comprehensive improvement and utilization of saline-alkali soil131. According to the screening results of trial test, the experiment was designed with six salt gradients, and the NaCI contents in soil were 0 (CK), 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.4%, 0.55% and 0.7% , respectively. Salt tolerance would be different according to different plants, different salt concentrations, different periods, and different ages of the same tree species, and the salt tolerance of plant could not be evaluated by the determination of any single index. [...]the comprehensive evaluation using plant growth and physiological and biochemical indexes is more scientific and rational. With the NaCI concentration increasing, the sucrose and soluble sugar contents in L. indica 'Red Rocket' decreased at first and increased then, and decreased overall, which might be due to that in the early period of salt stress, respiration was strengthened and consumed more sugar, while in the late period of salt stress, soluble sugar content increased, and L. indica 'Red Rocket' improved turgor in cells through the accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances, thereby improving its own water absorption capacity.