Effects of Salt Stress Applied in Balanced Nutrient Solutions at Several Stages during Growth of Tomato

Deleterious effects of salt stress on vegetative growth of tomato were most pronounced when plants were exposed to saline conditions during the early seedling stage. Growth rates remained severely restricted following removal of stress during this period, but plants stressed at later times resumed growth at rates similar to control values soon after they were returned to base nutrient solutions. While bud and flower formation were delayed by salt stress, the effect followed the previous trend and was most pronounced when plants were stressed during early vegetative growth. There were no indications that tomato declined in salt tolerance at the time of budding or flowering. The increase in water content of control plants during the early days of growth suggests that a rise in succulence is to be expected under nonstress conditions. However, imposition of stress during this period caused a marked decrease of water in the tissues, and contrary to the normal state, succulence declined during the sensitive seedling stage.