Effect of salinity on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) during seed germination stage

Abstract

A study was conducted using ten genetically diverse genotypes along with their 45F 1 (generated by diallel mating) under normal and salt stress conditions. Although, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is moderately sensitive to salinity but more attention to salinity is yet to be required in the production of tomato. In present study, germination rate, speed of germination, dry weight ratio and Na + /K + ratio in root and shoot, were the parameters assayed on three salinity levels; control, 1.0 % NaCl and 3.0 % NaCl with Hoagland's solution. Increasing salt stress negatively affected growth and development of tomato. When salt concentration increased, germination of tomato seed was reduced and the time needed to complete germination lengthened, root/shoot dry weight ratio was higher and Na + content increased but K + content decreased. Among the varieties, Sel-7 followed by Arka Vikas and crosses involving them as a parent were found to be the more tolerant genotypes in the present study on the basis of studied parameters.

Genotypic Response of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) on Germination and Seedling Characters to Different Salinity Levels

“…Cell elongation is mainly based on turgidity of the cell which is reduced by salt stress, causing reduction of shoot and root length (Sekhon and Singh, 1994). Similar findings were reported by Akinci et al, (2004) in eggplant and Jogendra Singh et al, (2012) in tomato and Zhani et al, (2012) in chilli.…”

Genotypic variation in tolerance to salinity of common beans cultivated in Western Cameroon as assessed at germination and during early seedling growth

“…According to the germination percentage results, different levels of tolerance were observed among the genotypes selected for study, with genotypes, KEB-CB053 and KEB-CB049 proving to be the most tolerant. The genotypes which are least affected by salinity may be potential sources of gene for salinity tolerance, important in plant breeding as demonstrated in tomato (Singh et al 2012). Therefore, these genotypes which germinate more easily at a higher soil salinity may be used as possible donors for salinity tolerance in crop breeding programs.…”

Assessment of salinity tolerance in tomato cultivars grown in Maharashtra, India.

“…Implementing corrective measures for salinity in field and greenhouse is usually expensive and temporary. Screening and selection for salt tolerance is a more promising approach for reducing the detrimental effects of salinity (Singh et al, 2012). Genetic diversity amongst plant species and cultivars within crop species provide a valuable tool for screening and breeding for improved salt tolerance (Arzani, 2008).…”