PJB-2009-198
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS AS INDICES OF SALT TOLERANCE IN HOT PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)
KHURRAM ZIAF1*, MUHAMMAD AMJAD1, MUHAMMAD ASLAM PERVEZ1, QUMER IQBAL2, ISHTIAQ AHMAD RAJWANA3 AND MUHAMMAD AYYUB1
Abstract
Plant growth and development is hampered by various environmental stresses including salinity. Effect of salt stress on relative water contents, membrane permeability, chlorophyll contents and carotenoids level was evaluated to assess their suitability as reliable indicator of salt tolerance in hot pepper. Cultivars Maha, Tata Puri and Hot Queen were subjected to different NaCl concentrations (2 [control], 4, 6 and 8 dS m-1). Root and shoot length, dry matter contents, relative growth rate, leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio were significantly reduced by higher salinity levels (6 and 8 dS m-1). Nonetheless, all the aforementioned attributes improved at 4 dS m-1 compared with control (2 dS m-1). In contrast, relative leaf water content (RLWC) was markedly affected with an increase in salinity stress. However, leaf chlorophyll contents and carotenoids (CAR) were significantly higher at 6 dS m-1 than the control. Salt tolerance index was high for Tata Puri followed by Hot Queen. Changes in RLWC and antioxidant activity were strongly correlated with dry matter, specific leaf area and relative growth rates. While, change in leaf area ratio, chlorophyll contents and membrane permeability was not correlated with the growth traits. In crux, RLWC and CAR contents can be used as reliable index of salt tolerance in hot pepper.
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