Effect of ascorbic acid application on yield and yield components of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under salinity stress

Abstract

In order to investigate the effects of different salinity levels and ascorbic acid application on yield and yield components of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), an experiment with randomized complete block design in three replications was conducted in 2013 in the greenhouse. Two ascorbic acid levels (Control and application of 50 ppm ascorbic acid) were tested in pot experiment under different salinity levels (0 (control), 4, 8 and 12 dS.m-1 NaCl). Results indicated that salt stress severely reduced yield components and grain yield of lentil as compared with control, particularly at high NaCl level (12 dS.m -1 ) exception of grain number per pod. Pods per plant were decreased as a result of salt stress, leading to reductions in yield components and final grain yield. Ascorbic acid application enhanced the grain yield and yield components, but it did not change the grain per pods of the salt stressed plants and control treatment. In general, it was become clear that application of seed priming with ascorbic acid in lentil ameliorated the adverse effects of salt stress and improved grain yield of this plant.