IDENTIFICATION OF SALT TOLERANT CHILLI (Capsicum annuum L.) GENOTYPES DURING GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING STAGE

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding Laboratory, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during July to October, 2015 to investigate the effects of different levels of NaCl solutions on germination and seedling characteristics of five genotypes of chilli. The genotypes of chilli were Bindu, Tej1701, Lanka1820, Picnic (hybrid) and Seaty (local) and five levels of NaCl salt solutions were control (distilled water), 4 dS/m , 8 dS/m, 12 dS/m and 16 dS/m . The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Data on germination percentage, days to first emergence, days to maximum emergence, shoot length, root length, shoot to root length ratio, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root and proline accumulation in seedlings were recorded at 14th days after sowing seeds. Effects of genotypes on germination of seed revealed that there was significant variation among five genotypes of chilli. NaCl salt solution was significantly affected seed germination in chilli and seed germination was decreased with increasing NaCl salt solutions. At 14th days after sowing seeds, the highest (83.2%) percentage of seed germination of chilli was found in control condition (0 dS/m NaCl) and the lowest (44.4%) percentage of seed germination of chilli was found with of 16 dS/m NaCl salt solution. In case of combined effects of genotypes and different levels of NaCl solutions on seed germination of chilli, the highest (95.33%) percentage of seed germination was recorded in the genotype Picnic with control i.e., without any NaCl and lowest (16%) percentage of seed germination of chilli was found with 16 dS/m NaCl salt solution in the genotype Seaty. The shoot length, root length, shoot to root length ratio, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root decreased with increasing NaCl salt solutions but days to first emergence, days to maximum emergence and proline accumulation increased with increasing NaCl salt solution in the germination media as compared to control. Proline accumulation was maximum in Picnic and minimum in Seaty. Among the five genotypes of chilli, Bindu and Picnic were comparatively more tolerant to NaCl saline action as compared to Tej1701 and Lanka1820 where as Seaty was more sensitive to saline action. However, further studies are needed in this respect including more genotypes of chilli as well as the salinity situations of the actual field conditions.