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Pak. J. Bot., 47(6): 2063-2067, 2015.

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STEM AND LEAF RESPONSE OF SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS TO SALT STRESS

ABDUL KABIR KHAN ACHAKZAI^1*, MUJEEB UR RAHMAN², MOHAMMAD YAQOOB³,  ATTA MOHAMMAD SARANGZAI¹, MUHAMMAD YOUNAS KHAN BAROZAI¹ AND MUHAMMAD DIN¹

^1*Department of Botany, University of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan

²PCSIR Laboratories, P.O. Box, 387 Mastung Road, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

^3*Department of Chemistry, University of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author e-mail:  profakk@yahoo.com, Ph #: 081-9211264, Cell #, 0333-7812944

Abstract: Pot-culture experimentation was carried out to note the influence of four distinct treatments of salts having an EC 1.19, 9.54, 16.48 and 22.38 dSm^-1 on stem and leaf characteristics of four diverse hybrids (i.e., DO-728, DO-730, Hysun-33 and Suncross-843) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Salt treatments were prepared by dissolving premeditated quantity of different salts viz., Na₂SO_4; CaCl₂; NaCl, and MgCl₂ in ½ strength Hoagland nutrient solution. Results revealed that all the salinity treatments significantly (p<0.05 & p<0.01) effect stem and leaf growths. Hybrids and their interactions also exhibited significant response towards salt stress levels. It was noted that there was a linear decrease in length and size of measured attributes as salinity level increased. A significant reduction in plant length (3.3 cm), girth of stem (0.3 cm), length of leaf (1.8 cm),  width of leaf (1.2 cm) and number of leaf plant^-1 (4.3) were recorded in highest dose of applied salts (22.38 dSm^-1). Different hybrid responded differentially and significantly with increasing the level of salinity.  A maximum significant (p<0.05) plant length (10.4 cm), stem girth (0.5 cm),  leaf length (4.8cm), leaf width (2.6 cm), leaf plant^-1 (9.9) and leaf burnt (1.5) were noted for hybrid DO 728 followed by DO 730 and Hysun 33, whereas a minimum significant values (7.4, 3.3, 2.2, 0.4 and 6.8 cm) for the same growth attributes (except for leaf burnt) respectively registered for hybrid Suncross-843. Based on the overall better growth performance, DO-728 could be ranked as salt tolerant followed by DO-730 and Hysun-33 as moderately tolerant and Suncross-843 as salt susceptible hybrid in response.

Key words: Salinity, Sunflower, Morphology, Stem, Leaf.