Abstract: Two-year-old cutting seedlings of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. “DII”) grown in pots were treated with sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations of 0, 100, 200, and 300 mmol·L^-1 for 40 days. We analyzed dry matter accumulation, leaf damage, and the variation in the content of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cl^–). We also investigated the accumulation, transportation, and distribution of these ions within roots, stems, and leaves to better understand the physiological mechanism of salinity adaptation of “DII”, to aid highbush blueberry breeding of salt-tolerant varieties and achieve more efficient cultivation. The results showed that the reduction in dry weight of “DII” was non-significant under low salt concentration (100 mmol·L^-1), but became significant under medium and high salt concentrations (200-300 mmol·L^-1). The salt stress index (SI) of “DII” increased with increasing salt concentration. Na⁺and Cl^- accumulated heavily in the leaves. The absorption of K⁺ in the stems and leaves, Mg²⁺ in the stems, and Ca²⁺ in the roots remained stable under low salt treatment, while there was a significant decrease in the absorption of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ in the roots and K⁺ in the stems and leaves under higher salt concentrations. Under treatments with high salt concentrations, there was a significant decrease in whole transport capacity of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ from roots to leaves, which destroyed the ion balance in leaves, resulting in ion toxicity and growth inhibition.

Key words: rape (Brassica napus), selenite, absorption, distribution, root morphology, physiological characteristics.