The researchers studied how different types of salt stress affect the growth of sunflower seedlings. They used different concentrations of salt and measured the plant's photosynthesis and chlorophyll levels. They found that high salt levels can increase chlorophyll and photosynthesis, but too much salt can harm the plant. Alkaline stress from Na2CO3 had a more negative impact on the plant compared to salt stress from NaCl. Overall, sunflower seedlings are better at handling salt stress than alkaline stress.