PRODUCTION OF Medicago sativa Vr. DK166 IN SALINITY

CASTRO LUNA, A.; RUIZ, M.; QUIROGA, M.; PEDRANZANI, H.

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Año: 2010 vol. 34 p. 36 - 36

0327-9545

The effects of salinity and water stress on plant growth has been the subject of intense research in recent years due to the constraints on productivity of crops over large areas in arid and semiarid areas. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is one of those crops, therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate productivity under conditions of water and saline stress. Plant height of 10 cm that were watered with 100 ml of osmotically active solutions of PEG 6000 (-0.5, -1 and -1.5 MPa) and with salt solutions of 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl and growth parameters evaluated. The PF (fresh weight) of leaves, roots and whole plant did not decrease with saline and osmotic stress. The PS (dry weight) of shoot and total effect was increased by salt and water stress; however the root remained without magnification. TL (total length), the LF (leaf length) remained constant under saline stress, whereas the LR (root length) compared to high salt concentrations significant decreased their growth (100 and 200 mM NaCl). With osmotic stress the LT, LF and LR were increased under the three osmotic pressure. This variety is very tolerant to drought stress, with increased air mass and high root growth and moderately tolerant to salinity.