Tolerance to Salinity of Sesame Genotypes in Different Phenological Stages

Abstract

The sesame crop is usually avoided in salt-affected areas because of the various effects of saline stress on plants. Besides varying between species, salinity effects are known to vary for genotypes of the same species as well as plant development stages. Thus, through the irrigation of plants with saline water, this study evaluates tolerance to saline stress of new sesame genotypes in different phenological stages. Three experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions, using the sesame genotypes BRS Seda, LAG-927561 and LAG-26514. Water with different levels of electrical conductivity (ECw = 0.6, 1.6, 2.6, 3.6 and 4.6 dS m−1) was used to irrigate plants during germination and initial growth stages, as well as the entire crop cycle. Tolerance to saline stress (3.6 dS m−1) during growth and production stages was also studied. Salinity did not affect sesame germination, but seedling growth was hindered from the ECw of 1.6 dS m−1 onwards, and plant height was the most affected growth variable. Seed production is affected by salinity, regardless of the phenological stage in which plants are exposed to salinity. The strains LAG-927561 and LAG-26514 show promising signs in studies on adaptation to saline stress.