EFFECTS OF SODIUM CHLORIDE STRESS ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS L. CULTIVARS

Abstract

In present experiment the effect of salt stress (0, 150, 300, 600 mM NaCl) on three cultivars of B. campestris L. like KOS-1, AGRANI and NRCYS-05-02 were studied. The high salt stress significantly decreased both morphological and physiological attributes like shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and root fresh weight and root dry weight, leaf number, leaf length and leaf width of all three cultivars. The RWC values and chlorophyll a, b and a+b contents were decreased up to several fold at high salt levels (300 and 600 mM), while proline contents increased at these concentrations. Maximum RWC values in AGRANI and maximum proline contents were recorded in NRCYS-05-02 while chlorophyll a, b, a+b and carotenoid contents were higher in KOS-1 followed by AGRANI. The results demonstrated that KOS-1 exhibits better performance than AGRANI and NRCYS-05-02 in both control and salinity treatment and can be a good option for cultivation in salt affected areas.