Responses of inbred (Zea mays indentata Sturt.) lines to different salt concentrations

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Republic of Türkiye, Bursa Uludag University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops’ laboratory during December 2018. Five inbred lines (Zea mays indentata Sturt.) (Namely, A1, A3, A4, A7, and T2) and five different salt concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM) were used. The experiment was set up in a randomized plot design with three replicates. Germination percentage (%), shoot length (mm), root length (mm), shoot fresh weight (mg), shoot dry weight (mg), root fresh weight (mg), root dry weight (mg), and their salt tolerance indexes were investigated. The obtained results showed that salt concentrations had a statistically significant effect on all the traits. It was observed that the values obtained for all traits decreased as the salt concentration increased. The salt concentratiıns higher than 50 mM had a significant adverse effect on the traits, and the lowest values were observed at a dose of 200 mM. A3 inbred line was more tolerant of salinity than the other lines in terms of the traits within the lines. To support our results, the detailed, larger pots or field studies should be established, and the obtained results should be evaluated at the level of soil analysis results according to areas.