Irrigation with saline solution (9000 ppm - SAR 12) and treating with some anti-salt
substances (Rizobacterine, Phosphorine, R-Humic, magnetic iron and potassium silicate either
solely or in combination), besides tap water irrigation (control) were investigation during 2014
& 2015 experimental seasons regarding their influence on some leaf physiological
characteristics (two seasons) and leaf anatomical features (1st season only). Data obtained during
both seasons pertaining the response of three evaluated leaf physiological characteristics to salt
stress revealed that two conflicted trends were detected. Herein, both leaf water potential (LWP)
and leaf succulence grade (LSG) were significantly decreased by salinity as compared to control
(tap water irrigation), however the reverse was found with hard leaf character (HLC). Moreover,
all alleviating treatments succeeded for repairing partially such salinity disorders and subjected
salt stressed transplants to the potassium silicate spray combined with magnetic iron was more
effective, in spite of differences between all alleviating treatments were in most cases
statistically absent. As for the response of anatomical structures to salinity, three trench were
detected i.e., 1- salinity increased (thickness of cuticle & epidermis layers at both leaf surfaces
and No of trichomes at lower epidermis), 2- deceased (midrib vascular bundle length & width,
thickness of spongy tissues phloem and xylem area and number of both xylem rows in vascular
bundle and vassels per each row) and 3- no changes in number of two mesophyll elements
(palisade & spongy tissues) particularly 2nd. On the other hand in most cases all alleviating
treatments succeeded considerately to correct partially changes in affected anatomical features
by salinity, however recovering treatment of potassium silicate spray + magnetic iron tended
relatively to be more effective with no significant differences than other recovering treatments.
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