Potential uses of Marine Bean (Vigna marina Burm.) as salt tolerant Legume in coastal salty land, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Vigna marina has potential to use as productive legume in salty areas of southeast Sulawesi. The study aimed to know the adaptation of V. marina grown under higher salinity condition, and elucidate their potential uses as salt tolerant legume in salty land. The germinated seeds were placed in polybags. Five polybags were taken as control, while five polybags watered by NaCl 200mM, and five polybags watered by NaCl 400mM for every day during 2 months. The dry biomass, chlorophyll and antioxidant (Vitamin C, anthocyanin and alkaloid) contents were determined. The results showed that dry biomass of marine bean was not significantly different among treatment indicating similar growth ability of marine bean at different treatment. On the other hand, the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, as well as antioxidant were significantly higher at salinity concentration of NaCl 400mM, indicating higher salt concentration induced the marine bean to produce higher chlorophyll and antioxidant contents as mechanisms to grow and withstand in the salty land. Therefore, the results of this study indicated that this legume is salt tolerant and is potential to use as productive legume at coastal salty land.