Effects of salt stress on nitrogenase activity and growth of four legumes

Abstract

The effects of salt stress on nitrogenase (N2-ase) activity, growth and nitrogen content ofVicia faba (L.),Medicago sativa (L.) Merrill,Glycine max andVigna sinensis (L.) were investigated. Four levels of salinity were applied and salt treatments were imposed on inoculated and N-fertilized plants.M. sativa tolerated mild levels of salinity but higher salt concentrations depressed N2-ase activity of this species. The other three legumes were considerably affected by salt treatments, and N2-ase activity was significantly reduced by salinity. Vicia faba, carrying elongate nodules, could restore a partial N2-ase activity upon recovery from salt stress whereasG. max andV. sinesis, both with spherical nodules, could not regain significant activity when salinity was removed. Salt stress retarded growth of both inoculated and N-fertilized plants. The nitrogen content of both treatments was also affected by salinity and the effect was more severe for inoculated than N-fertilized plants.