The influence of soil salinity on volatile organic compounds emission and photosynthetic parameters of Solanum lycopersicum L. varieties

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the best known stress factors of plants that can lead to crop yield reduction. Therefore, it is important to identify new tolerance varieties of plants that can grow on saline soils. We have studied the influence of salt on five different tomato varieties from the Western region of Romania and compared them with a commercial hybrid and found that one of them (Rudna) is a very salt-tolerant variety (up to 200 mM NaCl). The assimilation rates and stomata conductance of water vapour are affected by salinity but some of the local varieties of tomato exhibit quite good tolerance. We found that all plants under salinity stress emit (Z)-3-hexenol (a C6, green leaf volatile) and the emission of all terpenes increased in proportion to the salt concentration. The emission of three terpenes, (Z)-beta-ocimene. 2-carene and beta-phellandrene, have been quantitatively correlated with salt concentration.