ABSTRACT
Rice is one of the important staple food crops upon which almost half of the world population is subsisting (Verma et al., 2012, 2013, 2015). However, it is most susceptible to salt stress. To improve salt tolerance, basic study of salt tolerance mechanism in rice and other salt-tolerant plants especially halophytes, will be very helpful (Flowers and Colmer, 2008). In this context, halophytic plants have served as candidate plants as they are endowed with specific traits such as salt hair, salt glands, succulence and
a set of specific genes which enable them to adapt to adverse conditions (Sengupta and Majumder, 2010). A comparative account of salt tolerance mechanism in the domesticated rice (Oryza sativa L.) and halophytic rice (Porteresia coarctata) will greatly help researchers. Porteresia spp. can withstand up to 30-40 dSm salinity without any adverse effects (Jagtap et al., 2006). Besides, it can withstand submergence under saline water for quite long periods. Since both these species belong to the same Poaceae family, genetic manipulation of salt tolerance genes and hybridization programmes are possible and can be carried out. Here, we emphasized on physiological, biochemical and molecular differences in salt tolerance mechanism of these species.
