Soil salinity induces osmotic stress and ion toxicity in plants. This stress impacts various plant tissues at the cellular and subcellular levels. The primary histological changes observed include:
- Cellular dehydration: High salt concentrations lead to the exosmosis of water from plant cells, causing them to shrink and become plasmolyzed. - Ion imbalance: Excess sodium and chloride ions disrupt the ionic balance within cells, affecting cellular activities and enzyme functions. - Oxidative stress: Salinity can lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), damaging cellular components like membranes, proteins, and DNA.
