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SALT TOLERANCE IN SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX L.): EFFECT ON GROWTH AND ION RELATIONS

A. SHEREEN, R. ANSARI AND A.Q. SOOMRO*

Abstract: A water culture experiment was conducted to study the growth and ions relations in four cultivars of soybean (Glycine max L., cv. Loppa, Egyptian, AGS-160 and ICAL-132) over a range of salinity (10-40 mM NaCl) at different stages of development. Increase in salinity caused a significant decrease in fresh and dry weight of shoot. Relative growth rate (RGR) decreased with increasing salt levels and at different stages of development. Cv. AGS-160 generally exhibited the lowest RGR and ICAL-132 the highest, while Loppa and Egyptian were intermediary. Sodium concentrations increased with increase in salinity while potassium concentration decreased. Salinity tolerance was generally associated with efficient sodium regulation in shoot. Potassium concentration and K fluxes were the highest in control and decreased under salinity. The magnitude of this reduction was dependent on the tolerance of the cultivars. A high K/Na ratio was generally associated with better salt tolerance.

Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam, Pakistan.
* Department of Botany, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.