PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Plants of Atriplex prostata, Halimione portulacoides and Atriplex halimus were harvested several times from field populations of the portuguese coast. Concentrations of Na+, K+, Cl- and NO3- were analyzed in plants and bladder hairs. Sodium and chloride accumulation in leaves and stems of the three species was evident. Sodium was especially accumulated in A. prostrata and chloride in A. halimus and H. portulacoides. The contents showed a clear increment during the summer months. Accumulation of nitrate was not observed and its assimilation seemed similar within the three species. For the three species bladder hairs are an important complement for osmotic adjustment and salt tolerance. However. bladders of A. halimus and H. portulacoides exhibited much higher ion contents than bladders of A. prostrata, indicating a higher activity mainly for sodium and chloride recretion.