Abstract: The changes of ion contents, betaine levels and betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) activity in seedling of halophyte seepweed (Suaeda salsa) were studied under different salinity (NaC1 and KC1). Results showed that the K+ contents in seepweed seedlings grown in NaC1 for 96 h decreased as the external salinity was increased comparing with the controls while the Na+ levels increased substantially. The levels of Na+ in seepweed treated with KC1 fell, but K+ levels rose. The betaine levels and the BADH activity rose with the increase of external NaC1 concentrations and the betaine levels increased as the time of the treatment was lengthened. The effects of KC1 on the betaine levels and BADH activity were similar to these of NaC1. These results illustrated that NaC1 and KC1 can cause a large amounts of betaine accumulation in seepweed, and preliminary data suggest that BADH activity has played a role in betaine accumulation.

Key words: Seepweed, Ion contents, Betaine, Betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase activity