Dynamic photosynthesis and its mechanisms in response to salt stress

Summary

Soil salinity is a problem that limits land usage and agricultural production worldwide. Photosynthesis is the foundation of plant growth, and is essential for plants to survive under salt stress. In typical crop canopies, both in open fields and greenhouses, light intensity is rarely constant. The dynamic light condition creates a complex light environment for salt-stressed and non-stressed plants alike. Unlike research on photosynthesis under dynamic light (dynamic photosynthesis) in non-stressed plants, so far dynamic photosynthesis in salt-stressed plants has received very little attention.

In this thesis, I addressed several physiological mechanisms of how salt stress affects leaf photosynthesis under dynamic light intensity. Knowledge in the thesis can be useful for crop management and breeding strategies to improve yields and salt tolerance under natural light environments.