ABSTRACT
Soil salinity represents a major abiotic stress factor that affects the growth of plants and their productivity and is a serious threat to global food security. A total of 30% of the world's irrigated lands, an estimated 62 million hectares, is affected by high salinity. Salinity is a complex stress for plants, as it affects plant growth and development via different components – osmotic and ionic components, as well as the production of reactive oxygen species. This chapter summarizes the effects of salt on plants – from soil salinity, plant response to salinity stress to the new approaches for the production of salt-tolerant plants. Finally, future research trends for the reclamation of saline agro-ecosystems are discussed.
