On genetic and physiological mechanisms of salt resistance in rice Oryza sativa L. (review)

The data are summarized on physiological, morphological and phenological traits contributing to salt resistance in Oryza sativa L. At seedling phase, the salt resistance is realized through an excretion of excess amount of salts, or due to their low consumption, or because of concentration of harmful ions in cell compartments, or by changes in stomata functions and regulation of antioxidant systems, as well as by an active growth which allows to decrease salt content in plant tissues. In the resistant genotypes, at the reproductive phase a trend occurs for restriction of salt flow to leaves, next to panicle, flag leaf particularly, and to a panicle itself. Of 12 genes used in plant transgenesis to increase the salt resistance, 4 genes can also increase both cold resistance and drought resistance, and 2 ones increase a resistance to all abiotic stressors, and 6 genes enable the drought and cold resistance. So, under selection for salt resistance, a gene complex is created simultaneously which provides for general increasing an adaptive ability in addition to resistance to specific stress factor.