[Objective] The aim of this study is to reveal the salt resistance of castor. [Method] Under salt stress, the growth, osmotic potential, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, Na^+ and K^+ uptakes and transports in the seedlings of two Ricinus communis varieties (cultivar castor ‘Zibi 6’ and wild castor which grew naturally in coastal saline-alkali land), were comparatively studied. [Result] Wild castor preformed better in halophilism than that of cultivar castor Zibi 6 under the NaCl treatment. One of the salt tolerant mechanisms of castor is to improve K^+ uptake and transport to overground portion, thus to maintain K^+/Na^+ homeostasis in leaves; on the other hand, the high stability of Photoreaction System Ⅱ (PS Ⅱ) plays a key role in maintaining the leaf photosynthetic rate under salt stress. [Conclusion] The results of this study provided theoretical basis for the extension and application of castor in saline beach.
1植物名称海滨锦葵[Kosteletzkya virginica（L．）K．Presl ex Gray]。2材料类别无菌苗茎段。3培养条件（1）愈伤组织诱导培养基为MS＋KT1．5mg·L^-1（单位下同）＋IAA2．0或MS＋6-BA4．0＋IBA0．2，以在培养基中加入50mg·L^-1的肌醇效果较好；（2）愈伤组织诱导不定芽的培养基为MS＋2iP5．0＋NAA0．5；
