Comparison of Salt Tolerance in Brassicas and Some Related Species

Jianjie Su,Bangquan Huang,Yimin Yang,Qitao Chen,Si Qiu,Shu Wu,Yuying Xia,Tingting Luo,Zhijie Xu,Bang-Lian Huang,Song Zou

doi:10.4236/ajps.2013.410234

Abstract

In this paper the salt tolerance in Brassicas and some related species was compared. When seedlings germinated on sand cultures with liquid MS medium were considered, the relative germination rate, root length, shoot length and fresh seedling weight were significantly correlated with each other (P 0.01), and only the relative shoot lengths were significantly different among the tested genotypes (P 0.05); When both seedlings germinated on MS and MS plus 0.4% NaCl were considered, only the relative shoot length of seedlings germinated on MS was significantly different from that germinated on MS + 0.4% NaCl (P 0.05), and also only the relative shoot lengths were significantly different among the tested genotypes (P 0.01). Raphanus sativa cv. Changfeng, B. juncea cv. JC and Brassica napus cv. ZS 10 showed low salt tolerance in terms of relative germination rate, root length, shoot length and fresh seedling weight; B. oleracea cv. JF-1, Sinapis alba cv. HN-2 showed high salt tolerance in terms of relative germination rate, root length, shoot length and fresh seedling weight. Based on our result we suggest that relative shoot length might be convenient to rank the salt tolerance but cluster analysis based on multiple parameters of relative germination rate, root length, shoot length and fresh seedling weight might be more accurate in screening for salt tolerance in Brassicas and related species.

Highlights

Soil salinity is an issue that affects an estimated 6% of the world’s land surface area or 12,780 million hectares (Mha) and secondary salinization from irrigation impacts an estimated 20% of irrigated land or 1474 Mha [1]
Our preliminary studies showed that seed germination, root length, shoot length and fresh seedling weight of Brassicas were inhibited by 20% - 60% when the NaCl concentration was 0.4%
In earlier screening of Brassica species for salt tolerance, the superiority of amphidiploid species B. carinata, B. juncea, and B. napus over the diploid species, B.rapa, B. nigra, and B. oleracea was proposed from different studies [8,22,23,24]

Summary

Introduction

Soil salinity is an issue that affects an estimated 6% of the world’s land surface area or 12,780 million hectares (Mha) and secondary salinization from irrigation impacts an estimated 20% of irrigated land or 1474 Mha [1]. According to the United Nations reports, 20% of agricultural land and 50% of world cropland are salt affected [2]. The Brassicaceae family consists of many important field crops such as oilseed rape, the Brassica oleracea vegetable group (cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale) as well as other species such as Brassica rapa and Raphanus sativus [6]. Their growth, yield, and oil production are markedly reduced due to salinity [7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion