Abstract

Abstract Salt glands are a notable feature on halophytic turfgrass species from the genus Zoysia . Plants were exposed to differing levels of NaCl and KCl to better understand the specificity of salt glands toward secreting specific ions. Plants were exposed to 75 mM NaCl:225 mM KCl, 150 mM NaCl:150 mM KCl, or 225 mM NaCl:75 mM KCl. Ion secretions were measured via leaf washes and compared to ion contents from whole leaf extractions. Salt glands secreted both potassium and sodium but secreted sodium at relatively greater proportions. Gene expression for several ion transporters including high‐affinity potassium transporter ( HKT ) and Na + /H + antiporter ( NHX ) genes showed that gene expression is highly variable, and further work is needed to understand the regulation of salt gland activity. This study aims to better understand the specificity of zoysiagrass salt glands for specific ions, particularly under saline conditions, even when sodium is not the dominant ion.