Effect of salinity on the growth and ionic relations in vicia faba

Plants of Vicia faba (faba beans) were grown on culture solution containing different concentration of (K+Na), K/Na ratios and different concentration of salinity with NaCl at 25^°C. The plant growth was reduced with increasing the concentration of growth medium and with increasing the level of Na in the medium. The total (K+Na) content increased with a concomitant decrease in K/Na ratio as the external (K+Na) concentration increased. K selectivity was decreased due to the increase in Na uptake. Plant growth was improved with increasing K/Na ratio in the medium. Increasing NaCl in the medium caused a reduction in the plant growth accompanied with an increase in Na concentration and a decrease in K and Ca concentration. Addition of Ca to salinized medium at 10 mM seems to relieve the deleterious effects of salinity on the plant growth.