Journal of Environmental Biology

The effect of salinity on chlorophyll, proline and mineral nutrients in common weeds of coastal rice fields in Malaysia

M. A. Hakim^1,2*, Abdul Shukor Juraimi³, M.M. Hanafi¹, Mohd Razi Ismail¹, M.Y. Rafii¹, Fazad Aslani³ and A. Selamat³

¹Institute of Tropical Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh

³Department of Crop Science, University Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

*Corresponding Authors Email : ahakimupm@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

06 June 2013

Revised received:

30 December 2013

Accepted:

25 January 2014

Abstract

Six weed species? (Leptochola chinensis, Echinochloa crus-galli, Echinochloa colona, Jussiaea linifolia, Oryza sativa (weedy rice) and Cyperus iria) were tested for their salt tolerant traits in terms of chlorophyll, proline and mineral nutrients accumulation against different salinity levels (0, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, and 40 dS m^-1). Chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content, proline and mineral nutrients accumulation were determined. Salt stress showed prominent effect on all the parameters investigated and there were significant variations between the all weed species. Chlorophyll content, K⁺, Ca2⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions in both shoots and roots significantly decreased; while proline and Na⁺ accumulation significantly increased with increasing salinity up to 40 dS m^-1. In terms of overall performance, Cyperus iria and E. crus-galli were relatively more tolerant; E. colona and J. linifolia were tolerant; L. chinensis and O. sativa L were salt sensitive, respectively.

 Key words

Common weeds, Mineral nutrients, Salinity, Rice

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