Journal Article

Genotypic divergence, photosynthetic efficiency, sodium extrusion, and osmoprotectant regulation conferred salt tolerance in Sorghum

Fakir, Md. S.A, Rahman, M.A, Tajkia, J.E, Soufan, W, Mia, Md.A, EL-Sabagh, A, Haque, Md.S, Sagar, A, Kader, Md. Abdul, Hossain, A.K.M.Z, Islam, M.S, Iqbal, M.A, Uddin, Md. N, Hossain, Md. A, Shabi, T.H

2023

Overview

Salt stress is one of the major limitations to modern agriculture that negatively influences plant growth and productivity. Salt tolerant cultivar can provide excellent solution to enhance stress tolerance with plant fitness to unfavorable environments. Therefore, this study was aimed to screen salt tolerant sorghum genotypes through evaluating of different morphological, biochemical, and physiological attributes in response to salinity stress. In this study, we have been evaluated total six sorghum genotypes including Hybrid sorgo, Debgiri, BD-703, BD-706, BD-707, and BD-725 under salt stress (12 dS m−1 NaCl). The response variables included length and weight of root and shoot, root: shoot ratio (RSR), photosynthesis (A), transpiration rate (E), elemental concentrations (K+ , Na+ and K+ /Na+ ), photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), water use efficiency (WUE) and pigment content (chlorophyll a, and b). The results revealed that saline environment significantly reduced all response variables under study of sorghum genotypes, however, Hybrid sorgo remained unmatched by recording the maximum root and shoot traits. The same genotype recorded higher photosynthetic efficiency which was attributed to Na+ extrusion, K+ uptake and higher K+ /Na+ ratio (1.8 at stress), while these mechanisms were not fully active in rest of genotypes. Moreover, this study also implies the involvement of proline in imparting tolerance against saline environment in Hybrid sorgo genotype. Overall, BD-703 remained the most salt sensitive genotype as evident from the minimum morphological growth traits and the least biosynthesis of osmoprotectants. These findings open new research avenues for salt stress alleviation by identifying elite salt-tolerant genotypes of sorghum for breeding programs.

• Publisher: Tech Science Press
• Subject: Abiotic stress / Biosynthesis / Cultivars / Efficiency / Extrusion / Flowers & plants / Genotype & phenotype / Genotypes / Morphology / Osmoprotectants / Photochemicals / Photosynthesis / Photosystem II / Plant breeding / Plant growth / Saline environments / Salinity tolerance / Salt / Salt tolerance / Shoots / Sodium / Sodium chloride / Sorghum / Transpiration / Water use / Water use efficiency