In this work, the effects of silicon (Si) supplementation were studied in pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv Ahmadaghaii) plants exposed to high salinity stress. Plants were grown in pots under control and SALT (EC=15 dS m-1) conditions without or with Si treatment (0.35 g Na2SiO3 Kg-1 soil) under field conditions. SALT stress reduced the plants’ growth significantly in both –Si and+Si plants; however, Si-supplied plants had a higher root and shoot dry weight as compared to those without Si supply under salinity conditions. SALT stress caused a significant reduction of leaf photochemical activities; however, Si application ameliorated these effects. The reduction of the net CO2 assimilation rate under salinity stress was alleviated by Si application, accompanied by an increase in water-use-efficiency. The concentration of Na in the leaves and roots was significantly reduced by Si, while root K and leaf Ca concentrations were higher in Si-treated plants under SALT stress compared with –Si ones. The activity of antioxidative enzymes increased under SALT stress and Si application caused a further increase, being significant for superoxide dismutase (SOD). SALT stress induced membrane damage, as was indicated by a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. In Si-supplemented plants, however, the MDA amount did not increase under SALT stress. The results indicated that the Si-mediated alleviation of SALT stress in pistachio plants is related to higher photosynthesis and water-use efficiency, a reduction of Na uptake and transport, and the stimulation of the plant’s antioxidative defence capacity.

Millets are important agricultural crops for arid regions due to short life span and their resistance to salinity and drought conditions, In Iran, three main species of millets including proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) are cultivated in Shouthem Khorasan province, eastem Iran, In order to assess inter-specific genetic variation for SALT tolerance at vegetative and reproductive stage, an experiment was conducted in split plot based on completely randomized block design. Nine genotypes of these millets collected from four different regions of the Shouthem Khorasan province (Ghaen, Sarayan, Nehbandan, and Birjand) were subjected to three levels of salinity stress (1.5, 5.5, and 9.5 dS/m). Although the yield and other yield related parameters of millets decreased by salinity stress, this reduction was more prominent only at high level of salinity (9.5 dS/m). Remarkable differences among same species from different areas were observed. Growth and yield capacity of three millet species from Birjand were also different. Of three millets, pearl millet from Bitjand followed by foxtail millet, showed maximum yield potential under both SALT stress and normal conditions. Of genotypes of foxtail millets, genotype from Sarayan exhibited maximum growth and yield potential under saline conditions. In contrast in proso-millets, genotype from Ghaen showed higher SALT tolerance. Thus, SALT tolerance varies in three millets from different regions, which could be further explored in future research.

SALT tolerance of several alfalfa populations and cultivars (Bami,Yazdi, Rehnani, Hamadani, Gharayonjeh , Renger and Krisari) were carried out in this study. The selected alfalfa were grown in Johnson solution culture supplemented with NaCl concentration of –0.07, -0.17,-0.37 and –0.57 Mpa in greenhouse. Plants were harvested at 0.10 flowering time. SALT stress decreased the plants height, dry weight of root and shoot, dry weight of leaves, leaf area and root length, while percent of leaves increased with SALT. Population of Yazdi, Rehnani and Bami had higher yield compare to others. Among the cultivars Kerisary had the most leaf percentage. Hamedani and Gharayonjeh population scored the lowest for all parameters measured except for the shoot height. Chemical analysis of plants under sodium chloride treatments showed that Na and Cl increased in both shoot and roots with increasing SALT.

Microbial life is present not only in our familiar world but also in extreme environments. SALT lakes with near or at saturating salinity are extreme environments that common all over the world. The study in detail of such environments would permit to determine not only the microbial diversity but also the gene pools and potential use of this information for biotechnological applications. Urmia SALT Lake in the northwestern of Iran is the second SALTiest lake in the world and resembles the Great SALT Lake in the western USA.Water, soil, sediment and SALT samples were taken from east and western sites in Urmia SALT Lake in July 2012. Direct plating, dilution plating and long incubation period were used to isolate organisms on MGM, MH, SWN medium. Isolates were taken from the samples by using the conventional culture-dependent methods. Of these, 36 isolates were selected for sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, based on their growth characteristics and colony morphology. Two hundred and twenty-eight of microorganisms were obtained from soil, SALT, water and sediment samples collected from the east and western of the lake. Of these, 36 isolates were selected for sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.Results showed that 36 strains represented 8 species, belonging to 3 generaHalorubrum, Haloarcula, Haloterrigena. As total, bacterial isolates were belonged to Salicola, Pseudomonas. All strains showed 96.5 to 100 % similarity in 16S rDNA sequencing. Of these, 5 strains showed less than 98.7% sequence similarity to the closest known strains and were representatives as new taxa of Urmia Lake.The phylogenetic analysis of sequences of Urmia Lake indicated in overlaps with 16S rDNA sequences from other lakes with similar habitats.

This experiment was conducted for investigation of SALT tolerance in alfalfa varieties in green house. Six varieties (Renger , Rehnani , Hamadani . Maopa , Bami and Yazdi ) and six level of salinity (control, -03, -0.6, -0.9. -1.1 and -1.3 Mpa3 ) in a factorial design with four replication were used. In this experiment used pot that fi1!ed with distil1 water tow times. In this experiment green house temperature were about 25±5 cantigrad degree and relative humedity between 70 to 80 percent In water potential -1.1 and -1.3 Mpa all plants were die because SALT concentration were excess around the roots. Leaf area affected by water potential and varieties that in the all sampling this effects were significant Effects of varieties on shoot dry matter in all sampling were significant but effect of water potential in three sampeling , vere significant Effect of varieties and water potential were significant on height with decrease in water potential, plant height were decrease too. In those water potential -0.3 , -06 and -09 Mpa, decrease in plant height relation to control were 17.9 .36.8 and 54.7 percent. The effect of variety and water potential on plant water potential were significant. It was concluded that Renger and Rehnani varieties in al1 properties salin condition have superiority relation to other and Maopa variety were sensitive to salinity.

Kalut basin (northeastern Ardakan, central Iran) has been formed during Laramian orogeny in the early Paleocene. Because of its moving basement a great thickness of Tertiary sediments (more than 3800 meters in the center of the basin) were deposit. The deposits show a continental facies and only some beds of middle Eocene show a shallow marine environment. This folded basin is characterized by some open synclines with terrigenous core (in Miocene age) and close to tight anticlines with SALT core (in lower Eocene age). In the central kalut basin, SALT bodies missing link (intrusive SALT plugs) and with same trend of b-axis of anticlines and/or with the same strike of pre-existing fault planes. Toward west and east margins of the basin, where the thickness of SALT stratum decrease, they are replaced by SALT domes (without any intrusion, in the normal sequences) gradually. In the westernmost of the basin any rising SALT bodies has disappeared and low relief structures have remained. A remarkable feature is similarity of trends of diapiric anticlines and low relief structures and it seems that some of the diapirs occur in place of pre-existing SALT high relief structures. Certainly the rise of the SALT bodies here depends on primary relief of these structures.