Screening and identification of Chinese sorghum landraces for salt tolerance at germination and seedling stages

Abstract

<p indent=0mm>The deterioration of soil salinization has caused great harm to modern agricultural production in the world. Sorghum is not only one of five main crops, but also an outstanding salt tolerant crop. The screening and identification of sorghum salt toletion of sorghum salt tolerance will be very important to the development and utilization of salinized land, increasing grain yield and maintaining sustainable agricultural development. In this experiment, 110 sorghum landraces were selected to test salt tolerance at germination <sc>(200 mmol L^-1</sc> NaCl treated) and seedling stages <sc>(100 mmol L^-1</sc> NaCl treated). The two germination indicators including the germination potential and the germination rate, as well as seven seedling indicators, including the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), seedling length, root length, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight were measured. The relative values of various indicators under salt stress were calculated, showing that the relative germination potential and relative germination rate of 110 sorghum landraces were 0<bold>–</bold>98.89% and 23.65<bold>%–</bold>101.79%, and The seven seedling indicators were 59.53%<bold>–</bold>99.91%, 52.47%<bold>–</bold>95.23%, 47.87%<bold>–</bold>100.14%, 27.43%<bold>–</bold>95.28%, 30.48%<bold>–</bold>98.26%, 21.62%<bold>–</bold>100.34%, 31.46%<bold>–</bold>102.13%, respectively. Combined the membership function value analysis, principal component analysis with cluster analysis, the salt tolephyll content (SPAD), seedling length, root length, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight were measured. The relative values of various indicators under salt stress were calculated, showing that the relative germination potential and relative germination rate of 110 sorghum landraces were 0<bold>–</bold>98.89% and 23.65<bold>%–</bold>101.79%, and The seven seedling indicators were 59.53%<bold>–</bold>99.91%, 52.47%<bold>–</bold>95.23%, 47.87%<bold>–</bold>100.14%, 27.43%<bold>–</bold>95.28%, 30.48%<bold>–</bold>98.26%, 21.62%<bold>–</bold>100.34%, 31.46%<bold>–</bold>102.13%, respectively. Combined the membership function value analysis, principal component analysis with cluster analysis, the salt tolerance ability of the 110 landraces at germination stage and seedling stage was comprehensively evaluated and the 110 landraces were clustered into four groups. A batch of sorghum landraces with salt tolerance at germination and seedling stages were identified, especially ten landraces, including Chaoyangbangchui (00003011) from Inner Mongolia and the Baidazimao (00001081) from Beijing showed high salt tolerance, which can be used in further research. There was no significant correlation in salt toleghum landraces with salt tolerance at germination and seedling stages were identified, especially ten landraces, including Chaoyangbangchui (00003011) from Inner Mongolia and the Baidazimao (00001081) from Beijing showed high salt tolerance, which can be used in further research. There was no significant correlation in salt tolerance between the germination stage and the seedling stage. Principal component analysis results indicated that seedling dry weight and root fresh weight can be used as indicators for the evaluation of salt tolerance of a large number of sorghum landraces at seedling stage.