[Objective] This study was conducted to compare leaf anatomical structure of Malus sieversii and M. robusta under different salt concentration levels to determine their tolerance to salt and thus to provide rootstock materials for apple production in salinized soil in Southern Xinjiang. [Method] The experiment was conducted with M. sieversii and M. robusta as test materials. Salt stress was simulated using 8 g/L of NaCI solution, and Hoagland nutrient solution was used instead of NaCI solution as control group （CK）. Samples were collected on the 20^th d of treatment, sliced through paraffin processing. The prepared paraffin sections of M. sieversii and M. robusta were then observed under a light microscope for anatomical structures of leaf, upper epidermis, lower epidermis, palisade tissue and spongy tissue. [Result] Compared with the control, the leaf, upper epidermis, lower epidermis and spongy tissue of M. sieversii and M. robusta under salt stress were thickened at different degrees, while the thickness of the palisade tissue was decreased. Moreover, high salt concentration caused severer damage to the cell structure of M. sieversii than to that of M. robusta, as M. robusta cells maintained better structural integrity. [Conclusion] M. robusta has higher adaptability to salt stress than M. sieversii.
