In this study, we investigated the effects of artificial defoliation on the
growth and physiological response of Lycium chinense Mill. to salt stress.
Our results show that partial defoliation increases the plant relative
growth rate, leaf water content and dry weight-based leaf Na+ content, and
reduces the fresh weight-based leaf Na+ content under salt stress. In
response to defoliation, the leaf Na+/Ca2+ and Na+/Mg2+ ratios were
decreased, but the K+ content remained unchanged. The contents of ROS and
MDA were decreased in defoliated plants. Net The photosynthetic rate (PN),
stomatal conductance (gs), electron transport rate (ETR), actual
photochemical quenching (?PSII) and photochemical quenching (qp) were
enhanced by defoliation. Together, these findings indicate that partial
defoliation mitigates the salt-induced growth inhibition and physiological
damage in L. chinense.