Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that limit crop growth and production. Salt stress influences plants in two ways: by affecting ion toxicity and increasing osmotic stress. Ion homeostasis, the excretion of Na+ and using antioxidant systems are the major strategies of salt tolerance in plants. Na+ and K+ transporters with enzymes that are involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species play key roles in salt tolerance in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of high affinity K+ transporter2;1 gene (HKT2;1) which is involved in regulation of ion homeostasis and L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLOase) which is involved in the ascorbic acid biosynthesis pathway, under different concentrations of NaCl over different time points in Aeluropus littoralis shoots. Results from Real Time PCR data showed that expressions of both genes were influenced by external and internal concentrations of Na+ and the internal K+ content. AlHKT2;1 was significantly upregulated by increasing Na+ concentration at all time points. Furthermore, its highest expression level in shoots occurred after 6 days in 300mM NaCl in shoots which was 25folds more than untreated shoots. AlGLOase expression levels increased 54 h after initiation of salt stress. These results indicate that AlHKT2;1 and AlGLOase respond to different salinity conditions and probably are part of the mechanisms involved in tolerance to high salt concentrations in A. littoralis.

Keywords