DETERMINATION OF SALT TOLERANCE OF SOME ANNUAL GRASS TYPES UNDER IN VITRO CONDITIONS

Abstract

Salinity effects in this period may cause insufficient development of the plant in the later periods. For the continuation of plant production in salinized areas, it is necessary to determine and increase the salt resistance of genotypes. Annual grass plants are grown extensively in the world. However, as with other plant species, annual grass plants are adversely affected by soil salinity. The aim of present study; determination of the salt tolerance of annual grass cultivars in vitro. In the study, 25 registered grass varieties were used as material. Salt concentrations of 150 mM NaCl were applied to determine the response of annual grass varieties to salt stress. Root length, shoot length, root-shoot fresh weight and root-shoot dry weight were examined in in vitro salt testing and the lowest values in the control group in terms of these properties were obtained from Efe and Vallivert cultivars, while the highest value was obtained from Medoacus and Trinova cultivars. In salt application, the lowest value was obtained from Tornado, Vallivert, Venus varieties, while the highest value was obtained from Medoacus and Trinova varieties. In addition, the variation obtained among the annual grass varieties used in the study can be used both in the grass aplication and in breeding programs.