Inheritance of Potassium Efficiency, Sodium Substitution Capacity, and Sodium Accumulation in Tomatoes Grown Under Low-potassium Stress

Abstract

Abstract One hundred tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) strains were grown under low-K stress (0.071 mm K) in the absence and presence of added Na to identify strain differences in efficient K use, efficient substitution of Na for K, and upper leaf Na accumulation. Five strains, selected as representing extreme differences for K efficiency and Na substitution capacity, were used as parents to create a series of F1, F2, and backcross generations to study the inheritance of K efficiency, Na substitution, and upper leaf Na accumulation of tomatoes grown under low-K stress. Reciprocal differences in the F1 generation were relatively unimportant in the inheritance of K efficiency, Na substitution capacity, and Na accumulation. K efficiency in the absence of Na was a trait of low heritability, with highly significant additive, dominance, and additive × additive epistatic effects. Na substitution capacity was highly heritable, with highly significant additive and dominance effects. Na accumulation also was highly heritable, with highly significant additive effects. Moderately high correlations were observed between Na accumulation and Na substitution capacity within genetically segregating generations.