Vol. 11, Special Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Kumawat Sarla, Kumawat Ravi, Kumawat Kana Ram, Gothwal DK and Yadav Suresh

Abstract:
Saline condition is increasing at a global level and study of tolerance to salinity during germination is an important for the establishment of plants and growing in saline soil. This laboratory experiment was carried out to assess the germination and early seedling growth response to salinity stress. Evaluation of 10 genotypes of Fenugreek at five different salinity levels (0.0, 40, 80,120 and 160 mM NaCl) was carried out during the 2016-2017 in the laboratory of SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner. To determine the salt tolerant Fenugreek genotypes using salt tolerance index, experiment consist of following genotypes namely RMt - 305, RMt – 351, RMt – 361, RMt – 354, RMt – 365, UM – 383, RMt – 1, RMt– 143, RMt – 303 and UM – 385. Fifteen seeds of each genotype were sown per sterilized petridish layered with autoclaved germination papers. Each petridish was irrigated with 3 ml of test solutions after draining out the previous days solutions. The temperature was 23±2 ⁰C in the culture room and the set was maintained in dark for the first two days followed by exposure to light of tube lights and incandescent bulbs. The experimental design was RBD with three replications. The experiment was terminated after 8th day of sowing in petri dishes and average germination percentage, shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight and salt tolerance index were recorded. The salt tolerance index (STI) of the genotypes, expressed as the ratio of dry matter yield produced under the NaCl treatments compared to the control treatment, was found to be a reliable criterion for ranking genotypes for their tolerance to NaCl. Genotypes UM-385, RMT-365, RMT-143 and RMT-351 were found most tolerant among above ten genotypes. These lines can be utilized to develop new varieties and hybrids with high germination and better seedling establishment in salinity with higher yielding ability. Cultivation of these salt tolerant genotypes on saline land would be a viable option to ensure food security under this climate change scenario.