Physiological and anatomical responses of Phyllostachys vivax and Arundinaria fortunei (Gramineae) under salt stress

This research was conducted in order to study salt tolerance of Phyllostachys vivax McClure and Arund-inaria fortunei (Van Houtte) Riviere et C. Riviere. The effects of salinity stress on growth parameters, anatomical changes, and ion accumulation from two 1-year-old bamboo species under different salt treatments were investigated. The growths of P. vivax and A. fortunei were not severely inhibited when salt content was lower than 0.42%. Their structural properties of vascular tissue were affected, and both species showed decreases in vessel diameters and a higher vessel density under salt stress, but they could still maintain relatively stable anatomical structure in saline soils. Besides, the results indicated that Na+ accumulation progressively increased for organs as salinity levels increased. In particular, the accumulation of Na+ in underground organs was obviously higher than those in culms and leaves. The levels of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in salt-stressed cells gradually decreased in response to the increase of Na+. Overall, we concluded that P. vivax and A. fortunei had the ability to withstand salt stress.