Genetic variation for salinity tolerance and its association with biomass production in cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)genotypes

In this study, salinity tolerance of 51 Kabuli chickpea genotypes was investigated at vegetative growth phase using 4.5 and 6.5 ds/m salt solution (by adding NaCl to 1/2 Hoagland solution) and 1/2 Hoagland solution (EC= 1.7 ds/m) as control treatment. A split plot design was used in this experiment where the main plot was salinity treatments and the sub plot was genotypes. Treatments continued until 40 days and after that, shoot length, leaf area, chlorophyll content and biomass ratio were measured. Genotypes responded differently to saline condition. Based on vegetative biomass production under salt treatments in comparison with control treatment, different salinity tolerance indices calculated. Ranking of genotypes based on these indices indicated that, the genotypes number 5620, 6364, 5941, 5280, 6142, 6356, 5843 and Hashem cultivar were more tolerant to salinity. Under 6.5 ds/m NaCl, genotype 6142 was the most tolerant genotype. Sowing the genotypes at saline soil generally affected by Na+ and Cl- with electrical conductivity of 9.8 ds/m at Neishabur (Feiz abad) field caused strong damages on all the genotypes and 60 days after planting none of the genotypes could survive at saline field. High salinity level in the field in comparison with salinity tolerance threshold of the chickpea genotypes might be the reason for this reaction