Effect of Salinity on Leaf and Stem Cellulose, Hemicellulose and Lignin, and Stem Cell Walls Characteristics of Kochia (Kochia scoparia)

Document Type : Research Article

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Abstract

Forage production in biosaline agricultural is a practical approach to use saline water and soil resources. In this context, considering the quality of forage produced can be effective in increasing livestock production. To evaluate the effect of salinity on stem cell wall characteristics and chemical composition of leaf and stem in Kochia (Kochia scoparia) a field experiment was conducted on 2008. Three saline waters (5.2, 10.5 and 23.1 dS m-1) and three kochia population (Birjand, Borujerd and Sabzevar) were allocated as main and sub plots, respectively in a split plot design based on RCBD with three replications. In this study traits include; stem cells wall thickness, percentage of stem cells in cross section, the percentage of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in leaf, stem and whole plant. The results showed that there were no significant different observed among all traits except percentage of stem lignin and total lignin. Thickness of stem cells was in 1.11µm in epidermis, 1.12 µm in chlorenchyma, 0.92 µm in cortical chlorenchyma, 3.67 µm in vascular fibers, 2.82 µm in vascular cells and 1.02 in parenchyma, respectively. The proportion of parenchyma, xylem, Vascular fibers and other parts (epidermis, chlorenchyma and cortical chlorenchyma) in the stem cross-section area were; 55.56, 24.16, 2.73 and 17.51% respectively. Percentage of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in shoots of Kochia showed that stem contains more cellulose than the leaf, but leaves have more hemi cellulose than stem. Increasing salinity levels to 10.5 dS m-1 reduced the percentage of lignin in stem (1.2), leaf (2.2) and whole plant (5.9). Correlation between the percentage of total lignin and thickness of epidermis and vascular fibers were positive significant, but correlated with the percentage of stem cellulose and hemicellulose in whole plant were negative significant. Despite of no significant effect of salinity at 10.5 dS m-1 on stem cell walls thickness, reduced lignin under salinity stress can increase its forage quality.

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