Variability in salinity stress tolerance of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties using in vitro screening

Abstract

Salinity is one of the abiotic stresses that lead to an imbalance in the physiological processes of the plants and also affects potato growth and productivity in maınly semi-arid and growing areas. The accumulation of Na+ and Cl- ions in the cells is very toxic can influence all mechanisms and the enzymatic actions of the plants. In vitro screening of plant genotypes for osmotic stress represents a valuable tool as an alternative to field trials and can be applied based on osmotic stress tolerance. The main goal of this study was to reveal variability in salinity stress tolerance of potato varieties using in vitro screening. Stem cuttings consisting of a single node of different varieties were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM). The differences among the plantlet length, number of branches, number of nodes, number of the leaflet, leaflet width, leaflet length, root length, number of the root, fresh plantlet weight, dry plantlet weight of all varieties were negatively influenced by all NaCl concentrations tested. Microtuberization and stolon growth of the varieties were also completely inhibited at high concentrations (100-150 mM). The Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied to the data matrix (15 morphological characteristics x 12 potato varieties) of the potato varieties. Also, a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to identify the possible nearest and similarity of all morphological characteristics analyzed of the potato varieties. In grouping potato varieties, HCA and PCA results were found to be similar. We can speculate about the responses of morphological similarities of the potato varieties against salt stress. We concluded that Innovator and Kennebec are respectively the most salt-tolerant varieties. Hermes was moderately salt-tolerant and microtuberization capacity of Slaney was also high under salt stress conditions.

Growth and Biochemical Responses of Potato Cultivars under In Vitro Lithium Chloride and Mannitol Simulated Salinity and Drought Stress

“…The number of shoots per plant also decreased with the increasing LiCl and mannitol concentrations compared to the controls in our experiment. These results are consistent with the report of Ahmed et al (2020) [33], where they treated potato genotypes with NaCl in vitro and had no significant reduction in shoot numbers at 50 mM, but cv. innovator tolerated 100 mM of NaCl.…”

“…The reduction was more pronounced in BARI-401 when treated with 40 mM of LiCl and 250 mM of mannitol. Our results are similar to studies, that reported a reduction in shoot length of potato cultivars with an increase in NaCl concentration [ 33 , 34 ]. Growth parameters, such as shoot length and the number of shoots, were also observed to decrease in the potato genotypes grown on mannitol supplemented with MS media [ 35 ].…”

“…The mean number of roots per plant was reduced as LiCl and mannitol concentration increased. The results are similar to a study of potato varieties which were screened on media supplemented with 150 mM of NaCl, with one cultivar, called Kennebec, produced the highest number of roots, leading the authors to suggest that Kennebec has an increased tolerance against salinity [33]. Similar results were recorded in the experiment of Naik and Widholm (1993) [37], where they reported the reduced development of roots when treated with 100 mM of NaCl in potato plants.…”

Salinity Stress in Potato: Understanding Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Responses

“…Under NaCl-induced salinity stress, cultivar Mozart and Mona Lisa showed severe senescence response at 180 mM NaCl, and Mozart barely survived at this level of salinity whereas, cultivars Desiree and Russett Burbank were more tolerant and showed no senescence [156]. Similarly, cultivar Innovator and Kennebec were found to be tolerant at 150 mM NaCl concentration [157]. Evaluation of 13 potato varieties for tuber yield at a different level of saline water irrigation from 0.5 to 20 dsm −1 revealed Rivola, Elgar and '927' to be tolerant and good yielding at stress conditions [158].…”

Drought and Saline Stress Tolerance Induced in Somatic Hybrids of Solanum chacoense and Potato Cultivars by Using Mismatch Repair Deficiency

“…In the beginning, irrigation increases two to four times the crop yield production of an area compared with rain fed farming, but during long term usage it has a substantial drawback, i.e., it induces salt accumulation in soil, which adversely affects the production of various crops [4]. Approximately 6% of the total land area and 50% of irrigated lands are under the threat of salinity worldwide [5].…”