Ions uptake, yield and yield attributes of rapeseed exposed to salinity stress

Abstract

Soil salinity is a serious constrain to crop production in many areas of the world. A pot experiment was carried out with rapeseed genotypes in order to investigate the effects of salinity stress on yield associated traits and shoot ions composition. Eight rapeseed genotypes were evaluated in three salinity levels of irrigation water including 0, 6 and 12 dsm-1. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with 4 replications was considered for evaluation of 24 treatments. Significant mean square of the salinity levels, genotypes and salinity ×genotypes interaction effects were exhibited for seeds per pod, pods per plant, seed yield, Ca, K and Na, indicating significant differences of salinity levels and genetic differences for these traits. Due to significant correlation of seed yield with seeds per pod and pods per plant these traits can be considered as indirect selection criteria for seed yield improving. Among shoot ions compositions, K had significant positive correlation with seed yield, therefore this ion can be considered as good indicator for seed yield improving at saline environment. The genotypes including Hyola401, LRT1 and DSM12 had high amounts of seed yield at 12 dsm-1 of salinity level and were considered as tolerant genotypes.