Plant Physiology Reports | 2021
Estimating the salt tolerance level of Brassica juncea B-85 (Seeta) variety by physiological and biochemical analysis
Abstract
Increasing soil salinity is a mounting concern for agriculture. While economically important Brassica oilseed crops are moderately salt tolerant, there is significant variation at the salt tolerance level among the varieties. Hence analysing the salt tolerance level of individual varieties is important for taking stock of the potential salt tolerant ones besides getting a better understanding about the underlying salt tolerance strategies. In this study we aimed for the first time to estimate the salt tolerance level of B-85 variety of B. juncea by physiological and biochemical analysis in response to salt stress under tissue culture condition. The overall analysis revealed a high strength of 200\xa0mM of NaCl as the lethal dose 50 for B-85 germination and seedling growth. The salt induced increase in Na + /K + ratio was higher in roots than shoots suggesting the presence of active regulation to protect the sensitive photosynthetic structures which indeed manifested protection well up to 200\xa0mM of NaCl stress, as total chlorophyll content showed significant reduction only at 300\xa0mM NaCl stress level. In this context, significant increase in the content of multipurpose osmolyte glycine betaine at 200\xa0mM of NaCl stress, suggests its probable regulatory role in the maintenance of Na + and K + homeostasis, photosynthesis and overall growth of B. juncea B-85 variety under salt stress.