A Note on the Anatomical Changes Induced by High Salinity Water in Roots of Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides Nash)

Abstract

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides Nash), a hedge-forming grass with high
tolerance to salinity, was grown from root divisions in pots containing sandy soil, at the
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Four levels of Red Sea water
mixed with fresh water were used in the following ratios of sea water to fresh water: 0:1
(EC, 0.4 dSm-1 ) as a control, 1:20 (EC, 3.1 dSm-1
), 1:10 (EC, 5.5 dSm-1
) and 1:5 (EC, 9.3
dSm-1 ). Depending on the level of salinity suberization was induced to varying degrees
in the stele including that of the pericycle, protoxylem elements, and phloem. This may
have contributed to the death of plants under the highest level of sea water.