15. Identification of sources of tolerance to salinity stress in peas (Pisum sativum L.)

Salinity stress has become an important limiting factor for plant growth and productivity. To evaluate the effect of salinity on plant and root development three pea genotypes were grown under different concentrations of NaCl (50, 100 and 200 mM NaCI) in an in vitro and in vivo conditions. After two weeks of cultivation in culture medium the seedling emergence rate was not significantly affected by 50 mM NaCl. In culture medium containing 200 mM NaCl only in variety Prometei over 50% of the seeds developed to the plants. The data indicated that increasing NaCl level significantly reduced shoot and root lengths, and plant fresh weight. Six weeks (42 days) after sowing in vivo, a reduction in plant height and weight was observed at 200 mM NaCl concentration. A proven differences of the root traits were established only in variety Prometei. On the bases of the obtained results it can be concluded that variety Prometei was the most tolerant to applied salt stress.