TITLE:
Growth, Physiological and Molecular Responses of Cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) under NaCl Stress
AUTHORS:
Sameera Hassan, Muhammad Bilal Sarwar, Sajjad Sadique, Bushra Rashid, Beenish Aftab, Bahaeldeen Babiker Mohamed, Tayyab Husnain
KEYWORDS:
Salt Stress; Gossypium arboretum; Cotton; Gas Exchange Parameters; Growth Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.5,
March
11,
2014
ABSTRACT: Salinity is one of the most serious growth
limiting factor, therefore, no longer being ignored. Although, cotton is fairly salt
tolerant; its sensitivity at crop stand and yield is affected. This study is
planned to identify the growth, physiological and molecular parameters in local
cotton varieties FDH 171 and FDH 786 under NaCl stress. There was 100% seed
germination but hypocotyl length was reduced at increasing level of NaCl. Plant
height, fresh and dry biomass were reduced as the plants were subjected to
increased stress of NaCl. Stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthetic
rate and ionic imbalance were found to be reduced under the gradual increase in
NaCl stress and affected the plant’s overall physiological processes. PCR
product of AtNHX3 has been identified in stressed and
non-stressed plants. Thus, the genotypes FDH 171 & FDH 786 were found
tolerant to adoption of salt stress and could be used as a source in crop
improvement.