TOLERANCE OF SOME BARLEY VARIETIES TO SALT STRESS AT SEEDLING STAGE
ALlCA, P. KUMAR, ARUN KUMAR, S. N. MASIH AND A. P. SHAMSHERY
Botany Department, Hindu College, Moradabad-244001
SUMMARY
Twelve varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown at 0, 4. 8, 12, 16 and 20 m mhos/cm EC levels using NaCl, NaHCOa• NaaSO, and CaCls together. Tolerance of the varieties to salt stress differed significantly at different salinity levels. Percentage germination decreased with increasing salinity levels and varieties DL-70 and RDB-57 showed' only 13-16% germination at 20 m mhos/cm EC level. Length and dry weight of shoot and root decreased as the level of salt stress increased except in varieties DL-157 and DL-I71 which showed initially an increasing trend upto 12 m mhos/cm EC level and declined thereafter. Number of roots also decreased as the level of salt stress increased in all the varieties.
INTRODUCTION
Salt stress usually leads to suppression of growth and it increases as the salt concentration increases in the soil (Hayward and Long, 1941; Gauch and Eaton, 1942; Bernstein and Hayward, 1958; Mass and Nieman, 1978) until the plant dies off. The varietal differences in salt tolerance are known to exist in certain crops (Wahhab, 1961; Allison, J965; Bernstein, 1975). The effects of salinity on a plant growth may vary depending on its state of development. Responses may be quite different at germination stage than at later stages. The first effective increment of salinity, for a given crop generally retards germination with little or no effect on the ultimate number of seedlings which emerge out. Higher levels of salinity aggravate the delay in emer gence and also retard final germination percentage (Ayers and Hayward, 1948; Paliwal and Maliwal, 1972; Varshney and Baijal, 1977. 77a).Barley (Hordeum vulagare L.) is a crop of tropical regions and is cultivated for its grains. It was considered of interest to study the varietal differences in barley at germination and seedling stages to salt stress conditions.
MATEJtIALS AND METHODS
Experiment on relative growth performance or twelve varieties of barley
(Hordeum vulgare L.) viz. DL-165, P-147, P-103, DL-157, DL-I71, DL-lOO, DL-120,
TOLERANCE OF SOME BAIlLEY VARlETIHS TO SALT STRESS AT SEEDLING STAGE 305
DL-165, P-147, P-I03, DL-70 and DL-3 obtained from the National Seeds Corporatton, New Delhi, under saline conditions was carried out at room temperature in Petri-dishes during December, 1978. The seeds were initially surface sterilized with 0.1 % HgCl:! solution. Twenty five seeds of each variety were germinated in each Petri-dish (II em) lined with filter paper, moistened with 4 ml saline solutions of 0,4,8,12,16 and 20 m mhos/em EC. Saline solutions of specific m mhos/cmEC were prepared by dissolving NaCI, NaHCO:h Na2SO, and CaCII! in distilled water following the method of U.S.
Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954). Distilled water was used as control. Three replicates of each treatment were maintained. Germination counts were made at 24 h interval upto 96 h after soaking when the germination was almost complete, however, only final germination % has been shown in the table I. Data on root number, length and dry weight of shoot and root were recorded once 240 h after soaking. Data were subjected to statistical analyses following analysis of variance method.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The percentage germination progressively decreased as the level of salinity increased upto 20 m mhos/em EC in all the varieties (Table I). However, a maximum inhibition of 84-87% was noticed in varieties RDB-57 and DL-70 at 20 m mhos/em EC. This indicates the magnitude of superiority of other varieties over varieties RDB 57 and DL-70 under higher salinity levels (8-20 m mhos/em EC). In general, barley proved to be quite highly tolerant to salt stress at initiation of germination. All the cul tivars except DL-157 and DL-171 showed a gradual decrease in shoot as well as root , length as the level of salinity increased from 4-20 m mhos/cm EC. Varieties DL-157 and DL-I71 seem to be comparatively more salt tolerant as the length of shoot and root increased upto 8 and 12 m mhos/cm EC respectively (Table lIa), In general, the root/ shoot ratio had increased from 4-20 m mhos/cm EC sa1inity level which indicates that the roots are less affected than shoots (Table lIb).
Root number invariably decreased as the level of salinity increased in all the varieties tested (Table III). Data indicate that the length of shoot and root had been decreased at 16-20 m mhos/cm EC levels in all varieties~ therefore, it appears that the so.uble salts at higher salinity levels have become sufficient to suppress growth as suggested by Nieman (1962'. Dry weight of shoot and root also decreased with lDcrease in salinity levels and the magnitude of reduction was more significant at higher salinity
~ levels except in cultivars DL-157 and DL-I71 (Table IV). Shoot dry weigbt increased upto 8 m mhos/cm EC level in variety DL-157 and DL-171 and~id not differ significantly upto 8 m mhos/em EC in varieties DL-165 while root dry weight increased significantly upto 12 m mhos/em EC in only variety DL-157.
In general the growth of shoot and root (dry weight) increased upto 6 and 12 m mhos/cm EC levels respectively and declined thereafter in varieties DL-IS7 and DL.
I
w ~ > t'" ~ Table 1. Effect of salinity on
%
germination in harley (Hordeum vulgare L.)1" :c'
..
-_ .. _ ... -_ •....•.. _.,._ ...•.•. -.... -.. -.~-.a
'Varieti'ea Salinity treatment (m mhos/em EC)I: >
0 4 8 12 16 20
l' > l1li
DL-36 100 :1:0.00 96.0:1:0.00 93.68:1: 1.15 93.32:1:2.08 93.32 ::1:2.09 88.0 ±I.OO c::::: :z RDB-57 82.68±1.15 44.0:1:1.13 30.68:1: 1.00 28.0 :1:4.36 25.32 :1:1.53 16.0 ±O.OO
a
DL-88 100 :1:0.00 100 ±O.OO 98.61:1: 0.58 98.68fo.58 96.0 :1:1.00 86.68±1.53I: > ~
DL-157 96.0 :1:1.00 92.0 :1:0.00 90.68:1:0.00 85.32:1: 2.52 85.32:1:3.21 76.0 ±2.00 !'" DL-171 97.32:1:0.58 96.0 ±1.00 96.0 :1:1.00 90.68:1: 0.58 86.68 :1:3.21 77.32±1.53
?!
DL-loo 98.68:1:0.58 96.0 :I: 1.00 94.68:1:1.15 93.32:1:0.58 89.32 :1:2.08 76.0 ±3.60I: >
DL-120 97.32:1:0.58 96.0 :1:1.00 93.32:1:0.58 92.0 :1:2.65 89.32:1:2.50 82.68±0.58 I! := DL-165 96.0 :1:1.00 96.0 :I; 1.00 96.0 :1;1.73 93.32:1;2.08 93.32:1;0.58 82.68±2.31 > P-147 94.68 :1;1.15 93.32±0.58 92.0 :1:2.65 90.6:1;82.52 88.0 :1;1.00
~
57.32±0.58 > P-I03 96.0 ±I.oo 90.68:1:1.15 85.32 :1;2.52 84.0 :1;2.65 81.32±J.15 54.68±3.51 :c' DL-70 76.0 :1;2.65 52.0 :1;1.68 50.68:1;5.86 37.32:1:1.53 32.0 ±1.00 C'I.\ 13.32±2.31:= >
DL-3 84.0 :1;5.30 64.0 ±1.73 60.0 :1:5.00 53.32:1:1.15 50.68±6.43 42.68±4.51
I:
""
g;
'l1li 0<
.,
.,
II'
..
~ I'" ~ > Z
Table lla. Effect of salinity on shoot a"d root length (em) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
('l m
:a
..
Varieties Salinity treatment (m mhos/em EC)(S I:
0 4 8 12 16 20 C.D. 0 4 8 12 16 20 C.D. at S% m Shoot Length Root Length
=
at S% > ~ DL-36 10.9 9.8 8.8 6.4 4.6 2.7 2.0 12.0 10.1 9.4 9.0 7.6 4.S 2.1m ><
RDB-57 10.8 5.9 4.3 4.0 2.9 1.9 1.1 9.0 6.9 S.3 4.6 4.2 4.0 1.1
~
DL-88 8.2 7.8 6.8 S.4 3.1 2.2 1.6 7.6 7.S 7.2 6.8 4.8 4.5 1.5;
DL-IS7 6.9 7.0 7.1 S.S 3.0 2.S 0.2 7.7 9.0 9.6 9.6 S.8 S.2 1.6 ~ DL-171 7.8 8.0 10.0 S.O 3.1 2.4 1.3 8,4 8.8 9.4 9.8 S.2 3.S 2.16
DL-IOO 7.S 6.6 S.9 4.2 3.9 2.7 1.0 8.6 8.S 8.3 7.3 S.7 3.9 2.8I:A >
!:;
DL-1:20 10.2 8.6 7.9 6.7 3.7 2.3 1.4 10.3 8.0 8.0 7.3 S.S 3.7 2.4 I:A DL-16S 83 6.9 6.S S.3 4.3 3.S 1.8 9.1 8.8 7.9 7.S 6.1 S,4 1.6
;l
m
P-147 10.6 7.3 6.3 S.O 4.6 2.1 2.3 8.9 8.S 7.0 6.6 6.8 S.3 1.9 CIl P-I03 7.0 S.2 4.2 3.4 2.S 2.0 1.3 7.0 S.4 S.O 4.2 3.4 3.8 1.4
> M
""
DL-70 7.8 3.8 2.6 1.3 0.9 0.8 2.3 8.7 S.O 4.7 3.S 3.0 2.0 1.3 DL-3 7.2 4.1 J.8
~
1.3 OJ! 0.8 1.6 7.6 S.4 S.4 3.4 28 2.7 0.3....
~
... ""'! >Q ttl W 0 -....J..
i
:lI- I"'~
Table
11
b.
Effect
of
salinity
on
root
and
shoot
ratio
in
barley
(Hordeum
vulsaro
L,)
at
seedling
stage
~
Varietiels
Salinity
treatment
(m
mhos/em
BC)
~
•
~
0
4
8
12
16
20
:II
DL-36
1.10
1.03
1.07
1.41
1.65
1.67
~
RDB-57
0.83
1.17
1.23
1.U
1.45
2.11
DL-88
0.93
0.96
1.06
1.26
1.55
).05
~
l'
DL-I57
1.12
1.29
1.35
1.75
1.93
-a.08
~
DL-l'7l
1.08
1.10
0.94
l.96
1.68
1.46
~
DL-l00
l.U
1.29
1.41
1.74
1.46
1.44
:
,~
a:
DL-120
1.01
0.93
1.01
1.09
1.49
1.61
,
,
I
1.28
1.22
1.42
1.42
l.S2
:II
DL-16'
1.09
~
P-147
0.84
1.16
1.11
1.32
1.48
2.54
i
?'"
P-I03
1.00
0.09
l.J9
1.24
1,36
1.90
DL-70
1.10
1.32
1.81
2.63
3.33
2.50
DL-3
1,06
1.32
1.42
2.62
3.50
1.25
~
=
.
;"1..
..
''''
..,
oJ
•
~
~Table
111.
Effect
of
salinit,
On
root
number
in
barle,
(Hordeum
vulgare
L.)
a
~Varieties
Salinity
treatment
II!!
•
(m
mhos/em
EC)
i
t'l:I til0
4
8
12
16
20
C.D.
at
S%
~ t" t'l:I
DL-36
S.7
5.S
S.3
S.3
S.O
4.3
0.7
~ <
RDB-S7
S.l
S.l
4.3
4.0
4.0
3.3
1.0
> ~
DL-88
6.1
S.9
S.7
S.l
4.7
4.7
0.7
~ t'l:I
DL-IS7
S.3
S.2
S.I
S.1
S.I
4.7
0.4
-
II!IDL-171
S.7
S.4
S.4
S.2
4.7
4.3
0.9
(j
'"
DL-IOO
S.7
S.4
S.3
S.O
04.9
3.8
O.S
> t" ~
;
DL-120
6.3
6.0
S.8
S.S
S.4
4.7
'0.8
II!I
DL-16S
6.0
S.8
S.6
S.6
S.S
4.3
0.8
P-147
6.0
S.4
S.3
S.3
S.2
S.l
0.6
II!I > ~
P-I03
S.7
5.S
S.'
S.3
'.7
4.3
1.0
II!I
DL-70
S.7
S.6
~
S.O
4.7
3.7
3.3
1.2
t::
DL-3
S.1
4.9
4.7
04.3
3.7
3.3
0.8
~
g
t'l:I W 0 \,I)Table IV. Effect of salinity on shoot and root dry weights (mg/3seedlings) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
~
-
0Varieties Salinity treatment (m mhos/em Ee) 0 4 8 12 16 20 C.D. at 5%
P
> DL-36 S· 22.33 22.67 18.0 ]6.33 14.00 9.67 4.50 I:"" RU 19.67 16.00 11.97 11.00 10.00 9.33 3.42 :"II RDB-57 S 19.00 14.00 13.00 11.00 9.67 5.33 4.45 R 15.33 11.33 8.00 6.67 5.33 3.33a
2.3'•
a::
DL-88 S 21.67 20.37 19.00 18.00 13.00 8.67 2.84~
R 16.33 15.67 15.67 13.00 10.67 6.67 1.76>
DL-157 S 16.83 17.67 17.00 13.67 13.67 10.33 2.'9~
R 7.50 17.33 12.67 13.33 4.67 6.21 2.81 c:: DL-171 S 16.67 20.00 18.33 15.33 6.00 5.33 3.67"
a::
R 17.00 18.20 18.40 18.00 6.67 5.00 2.00
~
DL-l00 S 19.00 18.67 16.67 16.33 15.0 5.67 3.67 r-' R 13.67 13.00 12.67 7.67 5.67 4.67 4.87:z:
DL-120 S 22.33 21.17 20.33 18.67 16.0 10.67 3.14a::
>18.00 15.00 rAt R 12.00 11.00 7.67 6.00 3.67
...
DL-165 S 18.83 18.67 18.00 17.33 17.00 14.00=
2.67 > X R 16.33 15.67 14.67 14.33 12.00 10.33 2.26 t:I P-147 S 18.67 18.00 17.33 14.33 12.33 8.00 2.93 ?" R 15.33 15.33 14.33 11.00 10.67 4.67 3.40~ rn
P-I03 S 17.00 15.33 10.17 11.00 6.33 5.33 3.42
=:
>R ]4.67 8.00 6.00 2.67 l.33 0.67 C 5.24 rn DL-70 S 15.25 12.22 ]0.49 8.37 7.58 6.00 4.33 ;j R 13.37 9.67 7.48 4.35 2.22 ~ 1.67 4.69 DL-3 S 15.61' 8.67 6.67 4.33 2.33 1.67 1.80 R 11.00 8.00 7.67 2.67 2.00 1.67 3.53
·Shoot "'Root
~
r· .
TOLERANCE OF SOME BARLEY VARIETIES TO SALT STRESS AT SEEDLING STAGE 311 171 while in remaining varieties the growth has been invariably decreased with increase in salinity levels and this ittdicates that adverse effect of salt stress was more pronounced on the early seedling growth rather that on germination which may perhaps be due to accumulation of excess amount of soluble salts at elongation phase causing toxicity (Ayer and Hayward, 1948; Wahhab, 1961). The cultivars DL-157 and DL-171 proved to be relatively more salt tolerant over other cultivars indicating the genetic diversity in the cultivars for salt toler~nce potentiality.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are thankful to the the Principal, Hindu College, Moradabad for the facilities provided.
REFERENCES
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