Abstract
Salt stress is one of the abiotic factors that cause a depressive effect on plants. This work aims to evaluate the effect of salt stress on growth of young plants of 7 cultivars (Adja-ouere, Côte d’Ivoire, Dangbo, Kpinman, Kombara F1, Lanman and Togan) of African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) produced in Benin, locally called Gboma, in order to determine their relative salt-resistance levels. Five NaCl concentrations (0; 30; 60; 90 and 120 mM) were applied to 4-weeks old plants for 2 weeks in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Results revealed that the 3 root growth parameters evaluated were only significantly affected for one of the 7 cultivars while for the growth parameters of the aerial part, at least 4 cultivars were significantly affected except for leaf number. Thus, growth of aerial part was more sensitive to salt stress than that of root part. Cultivar Dangbo, which did not undergo significant reduction in growth for none of the 9 parameters evaluated, was the most salt resistant. It was followed by Togan which underwent significant growth reduction for only 3 growth parameters and only at the highest NaCl concentrations used. On the other hand, cultivar Kombara F1 which underwent a significant growth reduction from the lowest NaCl concentrations used for 4 of the nine parameters evaluated was the most salt sensitive. It was followed by Lanman, Kpinman and Adja-ouere with respectively 3, 2 and 2 growth parameters significantly reduced at the lowest NaCl concentrations used. Cultivar Côte d’Ivoire showed intermediate behavior. Key words: Plant growth, NaCl, salt resistance, cultivars’ discrimination, Gboma. 
Highlights
Salinity is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant productivity around the world (Ashraf and Harris, 2004)
Seeds of cultivars CI, Lanman and Kpinman were provided by the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin (INRAB), while cultivars Dangbo, Adja-ouere and Togan were obtained from the Regional Agriculture Development Agency of Plateau (ATDA / Plateau, Republic of Benin)
The reduction of plant growth by salt stress is a current phenomenon as reported in several vegetables species including tossa jute (Ghosh et al, 2013; Ben Yakoub et al, 2019), amaranth amaranth (Omami et al, 2005; Omami and Hammes 2006); pepper (Sikha et al, 2013; R’him et al, 2013): tomato
Summary
Salinity is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant productivity around the world (Ashraf and Harris, 2004). The identification of cultivars and genotypes tolerant to salts, capable of minimizing the depressive effects of salinity on yields, would certainly improve agricultural production in areas affected by salinity (Benidire et al, 2015) because the world averagely wastes 10 ha of cultivable land per minute, including 3 hectares due to salinization (Mermoud, 2006). Horticultural products in general and vegetables in particular have become an important sector with high growth potential (Mahaliyanahaarachchi et al, 2004). These crops occupy a prominent position in the food production chain in Benin and are mainly cultivated in the coastal zone where they are exposed to salt stress (Ezin et al, 2012)
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