INFLUENCE OF SODIUM-CHLORIDE ON TRANSPIRATION AND PLANT GROWTH OF TWO TOMATO CULTIVARS

Abstract

Seedlings were grown at five salinity levels in Hoagland's solution for 4 weeks. Transpiration, leaf diffusive resistance, leaf temperature and plant growth of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars 'VF 145B' and 'VF 10' were examined at different levels of NaCl ranging from 0 to -12 bars. Salinity-reduced transpiration increased leaf diffusive resistance and increased leaf temperature for both cultivars. Shoot length, root length, shoot and root weight and leaf area were all lower for the two cultivars at increasing salinity levels. However, the two cultivars responded differently to salinity, with VF 10 showing better growth at the control and the -4 bar treatment than VF 145 B. At -9 and -12 bar treatment, the reverse was true. Selection of tomato for salt resistance should not be based on vigorous growth at non-saline conditions because different genes may control the salt tolerance ability of the plants at high salinity levels.