A Study on the Effect of Salinity Stress on the Chlorophyll Content of Certain Rice Cultivars of Kerala State of India

Abstract

Photosynthetic efficiency of a crop species depends upon factors like leaf area, chlorophyll content, stomatal exposure, etc. The present study was an attempt to assess the impact of salt stress on the chlorophyll content of sevenpopular rice cultivars grown in one of the saline rice habitatsof Kerala state of India such as Kuthitru, Kuttusan, Orkazhama, Chovvarian, Orthadian, Ezhome-1 and Ezhome-2.The results showed general reduction in chlorophyll content in all the seven cultivars studied under salt stress. The cultivars Chovvarianand Orthadian exhibited comparatively lesser quantum of negative variation in chlorophyll content under salt stress indicating their potential to grow and perform moderately well even under higher levels of salinity.