COMPARATIVE RESPONSES TO HIGH SALINITY BETWEEN SALT-SENSITIVE AND SALT-TOLERANT GENOTYPES OF THE TOMATO.

The performance of a salt-tolerant wild ecotype of the cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon cheesmanii) and two tomato cultivars in control and saline media was compared.
The parameters examined were germination responses, growth rate of the vegetative plant, succulence, and accumulation of Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, K⁺, and Cl^– in the root, stem and leaf tissues.

In response to increasing salt stress, the onset of germination was progressively delayed, germination rates were decreased and the final level reduced.
All genotypes showed qualitatively similar responses to increased salt levels, however L. cheesmanii (LA1401) showed greater sensitivity to salinity.

Under control conditions the elaboration of leaf area was higher in the two cultivars than the wild ecotype.
Under saline conditions, leaf area was reduced to a greater extent in Ace while LA1401 was affected the least; Edkawy was intermediate in response.
Among the accessions tested, LA1401 and Edkawy tended to have greater succulence in the major tissues, particularly under saline conditions. L. cheesmanii and the cv. ‘Edkawy’, showed high accumulation of Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, and Cl^– in leaves and a greater decrease in K⁺ content under saline conditions in comparison with the cv. ‘Ace’.

Symposium on Tomato Production on Arid Land

M.H. Mahmoud, R.A. Jones, A.S. El-Beltagy

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.190.62