Sodium Chloride Reduces Growth and Cytosolic Calcium, But Does Not Affect Cytosolic pH, in Root Hairs of Arabidopsis Thaliana L.

The study found that sodium chloride (NaCl) reduced the growth of root hairs in Arabidopsis thaliana by decreasing the cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) gradient at the hair tips, although it did not affect the cytosolic pH. The negative impact on root hair extension was alleviated by additional extracellular Ca2+, indicating that NaCl's long-term inhibition of growth might be due to changes in the Ca2+ gradient. The research suggested that while NaCl stress affected Ca2+ gradients and growth, cytosolic pH remained stable, highlighting the role of root hairs in nutrient uptake and potential nutrient deficiency symptoms in salt-stressed plants. The study involved experiments with 3–4-day-old plants using various NaCl and Ca2+ concentrations.