[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the salt-tolerance mechanism of sweet potato.[Method]Two sweet potato varieties of Xu 25-2(salt-tolerant cultivar)and Triumph 100(salt-sensitive cultivar)were treated by sodium chloride with the concentration of 0 mmol/L and 100 mmol/L.After 20 days,Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio in the roots,shoots and leave were determined by the flame photometer,while dry weight and fresh weight of roots,shoots and leave in different varieties were also studied.[Result]The growth of two sweet potato varieties was inhibited under salt stress,so the plant became shorter,leaf and root became fewer,dry weight of roots and leave decreased,but seedlings of Xu 25-2 were inhibited slightly.Furthermore,Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio in roots,shoots and leaves of two sweet potato varieties increased.Na+ content of salt-tolerant Xu 25-2 was low in roots,shoots and leaves,while Na+ content of salt-sensitive Triumph 100 was high in shoots and leave of seedlings,but the change range of Xu 25-2 was less than that of Triumph 100.[Conclusion]The lower Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio in leaves under salt stress were the most important characteristics for salt-tolerance of sweet potato varieties.
