Physiological studies on tolerance of different genotypes of faba bean plant to NaCl stress

Abstract EN

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that are a threat to crop production worldwide.

Therefore, the aim of the present experiment was to select the tolerant genotype/s based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of five Vicia faba genotypes (Giza 716 "Egypt", Gza "Yemen", ALB "Algeria", Triple white TW "Sudan" and NA112"Bakestane") under salt stress.

We studied the effect of different levels of NaCl stress (0-100 mM-150 mM and 200 mM) on growth parameters (length, fresh weight and dry weight) of shoot and root, also some physiological and biochemical traits such as membrane stability index (MSI), leaf relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll (a, b and carotenoids) content, proline biomarker and activities of catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7) polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes in the five faba bean genotypes.

The results indicated that, salt stress reduced all growth parameters, MSI, RWC and photosynthetic pigments content with all genotypes.

However, the deteriorating effect of salt stress on the growth performance of genotype ALB were relatively low due to its better RWC, higher membrane stability, more stabile for photosynthetic pigments, relatively high accumulation of proline and the high expression of some antioxidant enzymes inside plant cells.

In the present study, genotype ALB and GZA were found to be relatively tolerant to salt stress while TW and NA112 genotypes were sensitive to salt stress.