RESPONSES OF DIFFERENT COTTON GENOTYPES UNDER SALINE STRESSED CONDITIONS

Abstract

Salinity is a major growth limiting abiotic factors. In this aspect an experiment was performed
to assess the effect of salinity on growth of different cotton genotypes under natural conditions.
NIAB-78, NIAB-HF and Cris-9 were grown under 100 mM NaCl stress with refrence to control (0
mM NaCl). Plant biomass, number of leaves and leaf area were decreased. The concentrations of K+
were also decreased in all genotypes but Na+ and Clincreased. Reducing sugars were highly
increased in salt stressed plants while total carbohydrates and protein contents were also increased
slightly. With decrease in chlorophyll contents, yield and yield characters were also reduced due to
saline stress. The genotype Cris-9 was considered best under control as well as stressed conditions
than both NIAB-78 and NIAB-HF genotyoes.