Study on the salinity tolerance mechanisms in plants

Soil salinity is one of the most serious global problems facing agriculture. Studying the mechanisms of plant salinity tolerance is helpful to the development of salinity-tolerant plants, saline soils cultivation techniques and the rational use of high salinity soils.

Our laboratory has carried out this study from the aspect of plant physiology, especially focused on the aboveground parts of soybean, melon, tomato, wheat, spinach and so on. The results showed that the root system plays a very important role in plant salinity tolerance.

The root system directly contacts the saline soil and is the first barrier for salts transportation in plants. Therefore, we are now studying the salinity tolerance mechanisms of root system.

Ping An（Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University)