CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study explicitly focusing on salt tolerance mechanisms
in Pongamia pinnata .. Salinity induced Ca2+levels not only counteract the Na+ toxicity but also
activate numerous signaling pathways including JAs signaling. Based on
our correlation results, we hypothesize that three phytohormones JAs, SA
and ABA play crucial role in the adaptation of Pongamia plants to high
salinity stress. On the other hand, induction of metabolites such as a
sugars, amino acids and polyols provides constant supply of nutrients
and are also involved in conferring osmotic and ionic homeostasis under
salinity stress. The downstream effect of the above signaling pathways
could influence the defense (antioxidant) and transporter gene
expression patterns conferring redox homeostasis under salinity stress,
ultimately leading to Na+ ion exclusion and
sequestration in the apoplasmic regions.