Salt stress boosts plant resilience and growth, offering hope for agriculture.
Salt stress was studied on Beta vulgaris plants to see how it affects their growth and ability to regulate water. The plants grew more in moderate salt levels, but their chlorophyll levels decreased. After 14 days of salt treatment, photosynthesis and water loss decreased, but water use efficiency increased. Proline levels increased initially but then decreased, while glycine betaine levels increased with higher salt levels. Overall, salt stress did not harm the plants' ability to use light for energy, but it did affect their chlorophyll levels and growth.