Morphological response of polyembryonic mango rootstocks (Mangifera indica L.) to different salt levels

Abstract

A pot culture experiment was carried out to screen the ten polyembryonic mango rootstocks viz., Muvandan, Manipur, Peach, Prior, Mylepelian, Nekkare, Vattan, Chandrakaran, Sundarimanga and Kolambe against salinity by irrigating with saline water (Control, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl). Irrespective of different polyembryonic mango rootstocks, plant height showed decrement with increase in salt levels. At 150 mM NaCl, the least per cent reduction in plant height was recorded by Nekkare (26.79%) and the higher per cent reduction in was observed in Chandrakaran (64.36%) and Sundarimanga (63.91%) rootstocks. High dose of NaCl resulted in more pronounced reduction in the other parameters such as stem girth, number of leaves and leaf area per plant than low dose of NaCl treatment, indicating the detrimental effect of NaCl on plant biomass and physiological performance of the rootstocks. In view of the above mentioned parameters, it is concluded that Nekkare rootstocks perform better as compared with other rootstocks under different salinity treatments imposed.