The mechanisms of salt stress response and tolerance have eluded definition despite reasonable success in defining their physiological manifestations. In this review, we consider the integrated salt metabolism of plants, essentially as a problem in meganutrient physiology. Two critical aspects of cellular and organismal metabolism are given particular attention-those involved in the control and integration of Na(+) acquisition and allocation in plants and those involved in readjustment of other aspects of metabolism, especially those involving carbon as a resource.
