SCREENING OF MUNGBEAN [VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK] GENOTYPES FOR SALT TOLERANCE

Abstract

Thirty nine mungbean genotypes exhibiting distinct and significant response during screening for salt tolerance at early seedling growth stage were screened at vegetative, flowering and pod-filling growth stages up to the harvest under two salinity stress levels i.e. 50 mM and 75 mM NaCl along with their respective control treatment. The experiment was conducted in earthen pots lined with polythene bags in complete randomized block design with reliable growth and physiological characteristics along with yield attributes. The results illustrated significant variations and adaptability among all the genotypes under salt stress. The tolerant genotypes were observed for less reduction in RWC, MSI, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, plant length, survival, K+/Na+ ratio, and grain yield even under high salinity level (75mM NaCl) with respect to their non-stressed plants. However, the susceptible genotypes showed greater reduction in the measured parameters under salinity stress. On the basis of low and best performance of each genotypes under high salinity levels, total eleven genotypes TCR86, PLM380, PLM562, WGG37, IC615, PLM891, IC2056, IC10492, PLM32, K851, and BB92R were selected from this study which will be screened further for salt tolerance for the identification of most salt tolerant and susceptible genotypes to be used in breeding for the genetic improvement of mungbean for saline soils. The study indicated that selection of genotypes according to their performance under saline condition is very important for the selection of salt tolerant genotypes.