Determination of salinity tolerance in lentil (Lens culinaris M.) seedlings using salt tolerance index

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to determine the salt tolerance of 10 genotypes of lentil namely RLG–5, RLG–195, RLG–234, RLG–250, RLG–254, RLG–256, RLG–258, SAPNA, DPL–58 and L–4076 under different salinity levels (0.0, 20, 40 and 60 mM NaCl) during germination and seedling stage. 15 seeds of each genotype were sown in sterilized petridishes on autoclaved germination papers and irrigated daily with 3 ml of test solutions after draining out the previous day solutions at 24±20C in the culture room and the set was maintained in dark for the first two days followed by exposure to light achieved by tube lights and incandescent bulbs. The experimental design was RBD with three replications. The experiment was terminated after 8th day of sowing in petridishes 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 L-4076, RLG-254, RLG-234 and RLG-258 were found tolerant.