Most Chenopodiaceae accumulate high sodium concentrations in their
leaves. Nevertheless, some species like Chenopodium album show rather
low sodium concentrations in leaves. The aim of the present study was
to characterize Chenopodiaceae poor in sodium in comparison to their
sodium accumulating relatives. Ion relations were compared in two
laboratory experiments, including a total of 40 different
species. Moreover, two pairs of taxa with contrasting sodium
accumulation were investigated more thoroughly: 1) Chenopodium album
in comparison to Atriplex prostrata, and 2) two subspecies of Salsola
kali. Additionally, a comprehensive literature review on ion relations
of chenopods was summarized in tables. Data on photosynthetic
pathways, life forms, geographical distribution and ecological types
are discussed concerning their relationship to sodium accumulation.
All investigated Chenopodiaceae showed high alkali ion concentrations
in leaves, high alkali ion uptake rates, and thin diarch primary roots
with long root hairs. Sodium concentrations in leaves and the apparent
selectivity of alkali ion uptake varied continously between
species. Falling sodium concentrations along the shoot confirmed
sodium retention in basal parts of the plant, e.g. for Che. album and
Sal.kali ssp.ruthenica, suggesting K/Na-selectivity of xylem transport
as a main cause of interspecific differences in sodium concentrations
of leaves. A different partitioning of ions within the plant in
different species revealed that besides sodium retention a limitation
of sodium uptake by roots contributed to low sodium concentrations in
leaves, and that these two processes vary independently. The
literature review revealed chenopods poor in sodium within the
Salsoleae, Camphorosmeae and Atripliceae, a higher proportion of
species poor in sodium was noted in the Corispermeae and
Chenopodieae. The most significant relation to sodium accumulation was
obvious for ecological types of the different species.