NaCl Salinity Effect on Qualitative, Quantitative and Physiological Attributes

AbstractFor evaluating NaCl salinity effect on some physiological and qualitative attributes of five winter canola cultivars, an experiment was conducted in a RCD base factorial in three replicates in greenhouse of East Azarbaijan Agricultural Research center in 2008. Five salinity levels as 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl treated as first factor on five rape seed (Fornax, Licord, Elite, SLM046, Okapi) as second factor. Na, K, Ca, Mg and K/Na ratio in leaves during growth season, and final biologic and seed yield, photosynthesis and respiration rates, fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic and oleic acid) proline, and total, a and b chlorophyll were measured. Results showed that increasing salinity decreased K, K/Na, biologic and seed yield, oil percentage, photosynthesis and respiration rates, fatty acids, total, a and b chlorophyll, but increased Na, Ca, Mg and proline content. SLM046 showed significantly lower contents of Na, Ca, Mg and higher contents of K, and K/Na ratio. It seems that SLM046 had higher yield and efficiency but Elite was susceptible to salinity. Compared to other cultivars SLM046 showed higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, total, a and b chlorophyll across all salinity levels.