10.57647/jrs.2026.1601.02

Assessing the Effects of Salt Stress on Growing Sulla Plants (Sulla coronaria)

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  • Djamel Medjebeur*1,
  • Si Ammar Kadi1,
  • Lynda Hannachi1,
  • Fatma Hacid-Chehrit1,
  • Nouredine Ferraguig2,
  • Abdel Elkrim Limane1,
  1. Faculty of Biological Sciences and Agronomical Sciences, Mouloud MAMMERI University of Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria
  2. Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Bejaia, Algeria

Received: 2024-05-14

Revised: 2025-01-11

Accepted: 2025-02-14

Published in Issue 2026-06-30

Published Online: 2025-11-12

Copyright (c) -1 Djamel Medjebeur, Si Ammar Kadi, Lynda Hannachi, Fatma Hacid-Chehrit, Nouredine Ferraguig, Abdel Elkrim Limane (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Medjebeur, D., Kadi, S. A., Hannachi, L., Hacid-Chehrit, F., Ferraguig, N., & Elkrim Limane, A. (2026). Assessing the Effects of Salt Stress on Growing Sulla Plants (Sulla coronaria). Journal of Rangeland Science, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.57647/jrs.2026.1601.02
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Abstract

This study assessed how the plant Sulla coronaria reacted to different salt levels. The experiment was conducted at Tizi Ouzou University in Algeria, using a pot experiment with a substrate of sand, clay soil, and horticultural potting compost. The experiment had 32 plants in four groups, which were then subjected to different doses of saline solution (NaCl) for 15 days. After two months, the plants were harvested, and the following data were collected: root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight, leaf number and area, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, total chlorophyll content, total soluble sugars content, proline content, and the extraction and quantification of hydro-soluble proteins. The results showed that rising salinity significantly reduced the number and leaf area of the shoots, and shoot biomass and length. These results are likely due to the effects of salinity stress on cell structure and metabolism, as evidenced by a decrease in cell hydration (RWC) and membrane integrity. These events possibly contributed to decrease in chlorophyll pigment concentration and soluble protein levels. Stressful conditions can lower plant growth, but Sulla plants can adjust to high salinity by increasing sugars and proline. We found the highest levels of sugars and proline at 9 g/L and 56.27 mg/g DM(Dray Matter), respectively. To generalise about how this species responds to salt stress, we should do more controlled and field studies with other populations to select those responding better to salt stress.

Keywords

  • Sulla,
  • Sulla coronaria,
  • Salinity,
  • RWC,
  • Electrolytes leakage,
  • Chlorophyll,
  • Proteins,
  • Soluble sugars,
  • Growth,
  • Osmotic adjustment
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