Effects of salt stress on growth of <i>Quercus ilex</i> L. seedlings

Abstract High salt concentration is one of the main factors that affects plants’ growth, especially in urban areas. Many Mediterranean sclerophyllous species manifest high resistance to salt, although few information exists literature on Quercus ilex . The aim this work was evaluate response Q. seedlings stress conditions generated by an increasing sodium chloride water supply irrigation. A 2-year experiment conducted using at different concentrations (first year 50–100–200 and second 75–150–300 mM NaCl). At concentration, a plant growth reduction registered both years. Until 200 NaCl, plants grew did not show any visible damage leaves, while 300 all died. Also, photosynthetic rate decreased concentration. Sodium accumulated parts accumulation occurred expense potassium uptake.