EFFECTS OF IN VITRO SALINITY STRESS ON GROWTH, OSMOLYTE ACCUMULATION, PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY, AND MEMBRANE STABILITY OF BLACK CHERRY TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme)
Main Article Content
Abstract
Rising soil salinity poses a major challenge to global tomato production because it impairs germination, seedling development, and ultimately yield. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of NaCl (0–6 g/L) on germination, growth, and biochemical parameters of the black cherry tomato under in vitro conditions in the seedling stage. Germination percentage declined significantly with increasing salt concentration, from 100% at 0 g/L to 80% at 3 g/L, and seedling growth was strongly inhibited at 6 g/L. Moreover, seedling growth parameters, including fresh and dry biomass, root number and length, leaf number, leaf size, and plant height, were reduced as salinity increased. Biochemical analyses indicated that proline content increased concomitantly with declines in photosynthetic rate, total chlorophyll, relative water content, and membrane stability index (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis confirmed a strong negative relationship between NaCl concentration and all measured traits (r = –0.90 to –0.99), and a strong positive correlation among germination, growth, and physiological variables (r = 0.93–0.99).
Keywords
Black cherry tomato, membrane stability, osmolyte accumulation, photosynthetic performance, salinity stress
Article Details
References
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