• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2002

Enhanced supply of $Ca^{2＋}$ as well as NO$_3$$^{[-10]}$ is known to restrict the uptake of the Na$^{＋}$ and Cl$^{[-10]}$ ion and ameliorate growth under saline conditions. This test was conducted to investigate the ameliorating effects of Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ or CaCl$_2$ on the growth and yield of NaCl-stressed tomato plants grown in plastic pot filled with soil. All treatments except for the control were supplied with 80 mM NaCl fur two weeks after transporting. The saline solutions with nutrient were supplemented with either 0, 10 or 20 mM Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ and either 0, 10 or 20 mM CaCl$_2$ during harvesting time from two weeks after transporting. Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ or CaCl$_2$ application enhanced the growth such as plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, fruit number, and fruit weight, and yield of NaCl-stressed tomato, and also their effects increased greater as concentration of supplemented Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ or CaCl$_2$increased. Yield increased in 20 mM Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ compared with the others except fur the control. Photosynthetic rate in Ca treatments was lower than that of the control, but higher than that of NaCl treatment. Leaf chlorophyll content was higher in Ca treatments compared with the others, especially in younger leaf, while that was not affected by concentration of supplemented Ca. Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ or CaCl$_2$ supply increased the $K^{＋}$ and $C^{2＋}$ concentration of tomato plants, whereas the Na$^{＋}$ transport to the leaves was inhibited. There was a strong increase in the $K^{＋}$/Na$^{＋}$ ratio in plants treated Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$, or CaCl$_2$. Cl$^{[-10]}$ content of plants was decreased by supplemental Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ but Cl$^{[-10]}$ was increased in plants with CaCl$_2$compared with Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$. N concentration in plants of tomato increased with enhanced Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ or CaCl$_2$supply, In conclusion, our study confirms the potential of Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ or CaCl$_2$to alleviate NaCl-induced growth reductions in tomato.