Some Observations on the Effects of Salinity on Ion Distributions and Cell Ultrastructure in Wheat Leaf Mesophyll Cells

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Abstract
The distribution of ions within wheat leaf mesophyll cells from plants grown in the presence of 100 mol m−3 NaCl were studied by X-ray micro-analysis, and the volume fractions occupied by the analysed compartments were determined stereologically. Generally, the cells did not accumulate high ion concentrations in their vacuoles, and the much higher Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the cell walls would produce an imbalance of cell water relations. The Na+, K+ and Cl− concentrations in the cytoplasm were often too high to be compatible with biochemical activity. In response to saline growth conditions, the volume fractions occupied by the cytoplasm and chloroplasts increased. Correspondence to: Institut für Botanik, Fachbereich Biologie, Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, 3–5 Schnittspahnstr. F.R.G.