Desert saltgrass [Distichlis stricta (Torr.) Rydb. ♯3 DISST] tolerated extremely high concentrations of boron in nutrient solution and was far more tolerant of this micro-nutrient than was reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L. ♯ TYPAR). Boron concentrations in nutrient solution necessary to reduce growth of desert saltgrass shoots and roots by approximately 50% after 28 days of exposure were 500 and 600 ppm, respectively. In contrast, shoot and root growth of reed canarygrass was decreased approximately 50% by boron concentrations of 82 and 29 ppm, respectively. After 28 days, reed canarygrass shoots contained approximately four times as much boron as desert saltgrass shoots. Reed canarygrass has a higher transpiration rate than desert saltgrass, but this difference did not appear to cause the differential boron concentrations in the shoot tissues of the two species.
