Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Salt secretion in response to β - Alanine foliar spray in Acanthus ilicifolius Linnaeus.

Volume 29 Issue 1&2

N. G. Mulik

Abstract

Seedlings of A. ilicifolius were planted under laboratory conditions and after stabilisation treated with increasing concentrations of NaCI from 0.0 to 0.3 M. Two sets were maintained and all plants were treated thrice a week, after their stabilisation to laboratory conditions. One set received only NaCl while second set received foliar spray of j3-alanine in addition to NaCl. After 5 weeks plants were subjected to analysis. Upper surfaces of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th leaf were washed with distilled water and the washes were combined. Major inorganic constituerts and chlorides were determined. It was observed that Na was more in NaCl treated set than (β -alanine set, indicating less secretion of Na in latter case. Na/K ratio also showed lower secretion of K in β-alanine sprayed plants. Calcium secretion did not indicate any significant effect by ; β -alanine treatment, but values of Na/Ca ratio were more in second set. This would show that the relationship of Na and Ca got changed by; β-alanine. Chlorides from secretion studies indicate retention of more chloride ir. the leaves sprayed with ; β -alanine. Present investigation reveals that β -alanine in mangroves has a protective role and acts through altering metabolic processes like ion regulation.

Date : 31-12-1987