Effect of nacl on shoot and root length of bruguiera cylindrica halophyte

Mangroves have evolved characteristics to adjust to the stress conditions in their native habitats to by means of a number of different adaptive responses at the germination stage of development. Salt tolerance in halophytes is brought about by a variety of structural biochemical and physiological adaptations. A variety of mechanism contributes to the salt tolerance of halophytes. It suggested that compartmentation of ions in the vacuole and accumulation of compatible solutes in the cytoplasm as well as presence of gene for salt tolerance (Gorham, 1995). Salinity is the environmental stresses that can limit the growth and development of Salt – sensitive plants. In the present investigation, the effect of different concentrations of NaCl on shoot and root length of the mangrove plant Bruguiera cylindrica were collected in the tidal forest mangrove belt of Pichavaram on the north east coast of Tamilnadu, India. One month old healthy seedlings of Bruguiera cylindrica of uniform size were collected and planted in polytene sleeves. Various concentrations of NaCl solutions were prepared and treated. The shoot and root length were maximum at 400mM than control. Upto 400mM the shoot and root length were decreased gradually (500,600 and 700 mM) NaCl concentrated salt solution treated seedlings. The increased concentrations of NaCl proportional to the decreased shoot and root length in the halophyte Bruguiere cylindrica.