EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF CASTOR BEANS GROWN UNDER SALINITY CONDITIONS (VARIETIES BRS ENERGIA, MPA 34 AND MPB 01)

Rafael Antônio Presotto,Everaldo Zonta,Glaucio Da Cruz Genuncio,Ghilherme Zolli Alves,Elisamara Caldeira Do Nascimento

doi:10.1590/1983-21252016v29n404rc

Rafael Antônio Presotto, Everaldo Zonta + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252016v29n404rc

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies have shown that some plant species exhibit satisfactory production levels when grown under high salinity levels, whereas others exhibit decreased production due to sodium sensitivity even at low sodium concentrations. The castor bean is moderately sensitive to salinity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the early growth of three castor bean varieties (BRS Energia, MPA 34 and MPB 01) grown in nutrient solution with increasing sodium concentrations (control, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mmol L-1). A completely randomized split-plot experimental design was used, with a 5x3 factorial scheme and three replicates per treatment. Salinity resulted in decreased dry weight of all castor bean varieties grown for 31 days under hydroponic conditions. The dry weight accumulation was less affected at the root than at the shoot level. Nevertheless, the shoot dry weight decreased with the increasing salinity. MPA 34 exhibited higher early growth than the remaining tested varieties. Salinity affected the early development of the tested castor bean varieties, and this effect was more pronounced at the shoot than at the root. Variety MPA 34 is promising for cultivation under moderate salinity levels.

Highlights

MATERIAL AND METHODSDrought and the occurrence of saline and sodic soils have been forcing farmers to use water with increasingly higher salt concentrations for irrigation (SAVVAS et al, 2007)
The analysis of variance of the data obtained for the different castor bean varieties grown in nutrient solutions with different salinity levels revealed that salinity had a significant effect on most of the quantified parameters (Table 1)
No significant differences in root dry weight (RDW), percent shoot dry weight (%SDW), %RDW, and root fresh weight (RFW)/shoot fresh weight (SFW) were observed between the different varieties grown with the different salinity levels (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

MATERIAL AND METHODSDrought and the occurrence of saline and sodic soils have been forcing farmers to use water with increasingly higher salt concentrations for irrigation (SAVVAS et al, 2007). The aim of the present study was to compare the early growth of three castor bean commercial varieties grown in nutrient solutions containing increasing sodium concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 mmol L-1). The levels of the second factor were the three different castor bean varieties (BRS Energia, MPA 34 and MPB 01).

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