Screening of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes to salinity tolerance
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Date
2013
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Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to screen the chickpea genotypes for the growth
behavior and alteration in yield contributing traits during salinity stress. Twenty two diverse
chickpea genotypes were evaluated for salinity tolerance. The experiment was conducted in
plastic pots raised under rain out shelter. The treatments comprised of control, 20mM and
30mM NaCl applied in split doses: 50% at the time of sowing and remaining at 15 days after
sowing. The observations on various physiological and biochemical traits were recorded at 65
DAS (vegetative stage), 90 DAS (flower initiation) and 110 DAS (pod initiation) and yield
attributes at maturity. Salt stress profoundly affected the growth attributes. All the genotypes
depicted reduction in plant height, leaf area and biomass efficiency. The photosynthetic
pigments, activity of nitrate reductase and relative leaf water content was also reduced in
response to salt application with effect being more pronounced in identified salt sensitive
genotypes (ICC15868 and GL26054) as compared to salt tolerant ones (BG1053, L550,
ICC8950 and ICCV10). Lipid peroxidation increased with both the salinity levels. Under
saline conditions higher accumulation of osmotic solute proline, total proteins and protein
fractions was observed with tolerant genotypes in contrast to sensitive genotypes. Salt
imposed stress finally caused a higher decline in yield attributes of sensitive genotypes as
compared to tolerant. The genotypes viz. BG 1053, L550, ICC8950 and ICCV10 were
identified as salt tolerant.
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Keywords
chickpea, Botany, Cicer arietinum L., salinity tolerance