Evaluation of commonly grown cotton {Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes under saline environment may help to cope with the venture of the crop failure in salt-affected soils. In a pot experiment, four cotton genotypes were grown to compare their relative performance on a sandy clay loam soil (original ECe = 1.9 dS m ') salinized with a salt mixture (Na2SO4, NaCl, CaCl2, MgSO4 in the ratio of 9:5:5:1 on equivalent basis) to EQ levels of 10 and 20 dS m '. The crop was raised to the flower initiation stage. The imposed salinity stress exhibited deleterious effect on the germination and vegetative growth with significant differences among the genotypes. Leaf area, stem thickness, shoot (stem + leaves) and root weights decreased with the increase in substrate salinity. NIAB-78 showed the least decline followed by MNH-93. Leaf thickness showed an opposite trend as an increase in this parameter was observed with the rising salinity, the maximum increase being in the case of NIAB-78. Analysis of the leaf sap showed increased Na ^ and Cl" concentrations and decreased K^ concentration with the increase in substrate salinity. A better osmotic adjustment, a lower Na^/K^ ratio and a lower Cl concentration were found in the leaves of NIAB-78 followed by MNH-93. This contributed towards their better growth performance under saline conditions.

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Background: Salinity is one of the environmental stress factors that restrict the crop production by endangering agricultural areas. Nitric oxide (NO) protects plants from damage caused by oxidative stress conditions in various biological ways. Methods: In this greenhouse investigation during 2018, pea plants were irrigated with three levels of NaCl (0, 50 and 100 mM) solutions. NO solutions were prepared with three different doses (0, 75 and 100 µM SNP). These solutions were applied to the seeds before sowing and then to the leaves of the pea cultivars. The study was conducted to analyze the impact of NO on growth, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), antioxidant enzyme activity and nutrient uptake in two pea cultivars under salinity conditions. Result: Salinity reduced fresh-dry weight, relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll a and b content of pea. However, NO enhanced these parameters under salt stress. Salinity increased tissue electrical conductance (TEC), H2O2 and MDA content, which were decreased by combined application of NaCl and NO. Salinity caused an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in pea and NO made a significant improvement in their activities under salinity conditions. Salinity treatments decreased the ratio of K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ in both cultivars, and application of NO elevated them as compared to the control under salt stress. In conclude, exogenous NO treatment could help pea to tolerate salinity stress by increasing the chlorophyll content and regulating antioxidant enzyme activity and nutrient uptake.