Plant Salinity Stress: Many Unanswered Questions Remain

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Salinity is a major threat to modern agriculture causing inhibition and impairment of crop growth and development. Here, we not only review recent advances in salinity stress research in plants but also revisit some basic perennial questions that still remain unanswered. In this review, we analyze the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of Na + and Cl uptake, sequestration, and transport associated with salinity. We discuss the role and importance of symplastic versus apoplastic pathways for ion uptake and critically evaluate the role of different types of membrane transporters in Na + and Cl uptake and intercellular and intracellular ion distribution. Our incomplete knowledge regarding possible mechanisms of salinity sensing by plants is evaluated. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of the mechanisms of ion toxicity leads us to believe that, in contrast to currently held ideas, toxicity only plays a minor role in the cytosol and may be more prevalent in the vacuole. Lastly, the multiple roles of K + in plant salinity stress are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number80
Pages (from-to)80
Number of pages10
JournalFrontiers in Plant Science
Volume10
Issue number80
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2019

Bibliographical note

© 2019 Isayenkov and Maathuis.

Keywords

  • Ion uptake
  • Mechanisms of salt tolerance
  • Membrane transporters
  • Role of K
  • Salt stress
  • Symplastic and apoplastic pathway
  • Transport of Na and Cl

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