Abstract
Pots trial was conducted on two faba bean cultivars ('Hassa 1' and 'M. Bead') under greenhouse conditions. Plants from seedling to flowering stages were treated with five salinity concentrations, viz. 22, 44, 66, 88 and 132 mol m(-3) NaCl in the addition to the control (tap water with an ECe of 6.0-7.5 mol m(-3)). The main results showed that increasing salinity levels significantly reduced seedling growth and most of the physiological traits. Net photosynthesis rate decreased with the increase of salinity concentration and also as leaves aged. The stomatal conductance decreased as NaCl level increased, and the lack of carbohydrate utilization due to salinity contributed to the low photosynthesis rate. Fully expanded leaves maintained higher Na+ than expanding leaves, whereas maintenance of low concentrations was observed.