Abstract
The impact of salt stress (NaCl 100 mM) on two lettuce varieties Romaine and Vista was conducted at germination and early seedling stages. The seeds of lettuce varieties were provided by the Seed Laboratory of Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture. The seeds were germinated in Petri dishes with double filter paper in distilled water (control) or NaCl solution (100 mM) for 5 days. The result showed that salinity significantly affected percentage and rate of germination in Vista variety but 100% of germination was found in Romaine. Length and fresh weight of root and shoot were reduced significantly with salt treatment in two lettuce varieties. Regarding biochemical analysis, acid phosphatase activity in root increased in Romaine and decreased in Vista. In shoot, this activity showed no difference with the control in the two varieties. However in cotyledons, and during 24 hours after germination, salinity decreased acid phosphatase activity in both varieties whereas in the later hours (48 - 96 h) this activity reached the value of the control in Romaine and Vista.
Highlights
High salinity is a common abiotic stress factor that seriously affects crop production in some parts of the world, in arid and semi-arid regions [1]
In Romaine variety, the germination percentage (GP) and mean daily germination (MDG) were not affected by NaCl 100 mM but germination rate was diminished by 30% at 100 mM NaCl (Table 1)
The results of this study suggest that salinity reduces seed germination and acid phosphatase activities in salt sensitive lettuce variety Vista
Summary
High salinity is a common abiotic stress factor that seriously affects crop production in some parts of the world, in arid and semi-arid regions [1]. Lettuce was determined to be moderately salt sensitive relative to other species [8] Against these stresses, plants adapt themselves by different mechanisms including change in morphological and developmental pattern as well as physiological and biochemical responses [9]. The present study was designed to study the effect of salinity on seed germination, seedling growth and acid phosphatase activities in Romaine and Vista. These two varieties were selected as representatives of different lettuce genotypes with varying salt tolerance, based on initial germination test under increased NaCl concentrations (0 - 150 mM) [14]
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