• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.6 s.122
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• pp.355-361
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• 2004

In order to elucidate the ecophysiological characteristics of coastal plants, we collected them on salt marsh and sand dune, and analyzed inorganic ($Na^+,\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{2+}$) and organic solutes (soluble carbohydrate, glycine betaine). Chenopodiaceous plant species (Atriplex gmelini, Salicornia europaea, Salsola collina, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda japonica) showed a tendency to accumulate inorganic ions such as $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$ instead of $K^+$. However, Chenopodium serotinum which lives in ruderal habitat contained more $K^+$ and less $Na^+$ than the other Chenopodiaceous plants. Most Chenopodiaceous plant species maintained very low level of soluble $Ca^{2+}$ and relatively low concentration of carbohydrates and showed high concentration of glycine betaine which is among the most effective known compatible solutes in the leaves of plant under drought and saline conditions. On the other hand, plant species which belong to Gramineae (Ishaemum anthephoroides, Phragmites communis, Zoysia sinica) and Cyperaceae (Carex kobomugi, Carex pumila) absorbed $K^+$ selectively and excluded $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$ effectively regardless of habitat conditions, and they accumulated more soluble carbohydrate as osmoticum than Chenopodiaceous plants. These results suggested that physiological characteristics such as high storage capacity for inorganic ions (especially alkali cations, chloride) and the accumulation of glycine betaine in chenopodiaceous plants and $K^+$-preponderance, an efficient regulation of ionic uptake (exclusion of $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$) and the accumulation of soluble carbohydrate in monocotyledonous plants enable them to grow dry and saline habitats.