Soil salinity can adversely affect crop quality and production. Napier grass hybrids with high cellulose and low lignin contents could be the most viable candidates for cost-effective bioethanol production. In this study, eight Napier grass hybrids with high ratios of cellulose to lignin contents were used as plant material to screen for salt tolerance. Among these, four hybrids were able to maintain chlorophyll content and leaf greenness. The crude fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose contents in the Napier Phetchaboon (NP) and Napier Yak Lampang (NL) hybrids increased under salt stress while lignin content did not change. Net photosynthetic rate and the amounts of total chlorophylls and total carotenoids of the NP hybrid were not affected by salt stress. Total fresh weight of the NL hybrid was reduced after 7 days of salt exposure while in the sensitive hybrid, this occurred after 1 day of exposure. Cellulose and lignin synthesis under salt stress is not directly correlated to cellulose (CesA2, CesA3 and CesA4) and lignin (PAL and CAD) associated genes. Of the hybrids tested under conditions of salt exposure, the NP and NL hybrids were the most salt-tolerant and most suitable for bioethanol production.

土壤盐分会对作物质量和产量产生不利影响。具有高纤维素和低木质素含量的纳皮草杂种可能是最具成本效益的生物乙醇生产的最可行候选者。在这项研究中，使用八种纤维素和木质素含量高的纳皮草杂种作为植物材料，筛选耐盐性。其中，四个杂种能够保持叶绿素含量和叶片绿色。Napier Phetchaboon（NP）和Napier Yak Lampang（NL）杂种中的粗纤维，纤维素和半纤维素含量在盐胁迫下增加，而木质素含量不变。NP杂种的净光合速率以及总叶绿素和总类胡萝卜素的量不受盐胁迫的影响。盐接触7天后，NL杂种的总鲜重减少，而敏感杂种中，接触1天后发生新鲜重。盐胁迫下的纤维素和木质素合成与纤维素没有直接关系（CesA 2，CesA 3和CesA 4）和木质素（PAL和CAD）相关基因。在盐接触条件下测试的杂种中，NP和NL杂种最耐盐，最适合生物乙醇生产。