Pinitol and Other Solutes in Salt-stressed Sesbania aculeata

The salt-tolerant legume Sesbania aculeata was grown in hydroponic culture with or without the addition of 100 mol m^-3 NaCl. The stressed plants had higher sodium and chloride contents and lower potassium, calcium, magnesium and nitrate levels. The fresh weight/dry weight ratio, shoot/root ratio, wax contents and relative growth rates were only slightly affected by salt treatment. Pinitol and, to a lesser extent, glycinebetaine increased in the leaves of salt stressed plants. The possibility of pinitol acting as a compatible cytosolute in this and other stress tolerant legumes is discussed.