DETERMINATION OF GENOTYPICAL DIFFERENCES OF MELONS TO SALT TOLERANCE

Salinity is a major abiotic stress reducing the yield of a wide variety of crops all over the world.
One screening study was performed in order to determine the genotypical differences of 31 melon (Cucumis melo L.) genotypes for salt stress.
Seeds were germinated in a mixture of peat:perlite of 2:1 ratio.
After 21 days of sowing, seedlings were transferred to plastic pots containing a mixture of peat:perlite of 2:1 ratio.
Two weeks later, salt treatment started and NaCl concentration was increased by increments of 50 mM per day until a final concentration of 200 mM was achieved.
Stress responses of the melon genotypes were evaluated in early plant development stage (55-day-old plants). Genotypes were classified according to the severity of leaf damage symptoms by using a 1-5 symptoms scores.
Dry shoot weight, dry root weight, leaf number, leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, relative water content, membrane injury index, and the shoot concentrations of Na, K, Ca and Cl were also investigated.
In conclusion, the melon genotypes showed large variation in their response to salt tolerance.
Reliable and effective screening parameters for determination of salt tolerance level of the melon genotypes were discussed.

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): III International Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources

S. Kusvuran, H.Y. Dasgan, K. Abak, G. Aydoner

Cucumis melo, salinity, screening, resistance, breeding, NaCl

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.918.102