Performance of selected spinach germplasm against salinity under pot culture

Abstract

A pot experiment on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) genotypes was conducted against NaCl salt stress at the research field of Plant Physiology Section, HRC, BARI, Gazipur for three consecutive years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19) to find out salt tolerant genotypes at vegetative stage. In 2016-17 eight genotypes (SO-0046, SO-0047, SO-0048, BD-4323, BD-4333, BD-4339, BD-1062 and BARI Palongshak-1) and in 2017-18 seven genotypes (SO-0047, SO-0048, BD-4323, BD-4333, BD-4339, BD-1062 and BARI Palongshak-1) were tested against four varying levels of salinity viz. control, 4, 8 and 12 dS/m in pot. In 2018-19, two selected genotypes viz. SO-0047, SO-0048 and BARI Palongshak-1 which performed best in the previous years were examined against control (tap water), 8 and 12 dS/m in pot. The genotypes showed significant variation in plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf length, leaf width, SPAD value, total dry matter/plant and leaf yield/pot. Among the genotypes, SO-0047 performed better at 8 and 12 dS/m in respect of all the characters studied followed by SO-0048. Therefore, it can be inferred that the genotype SO-0047 is relatively salt tolerant and can be recommended as a variety for cultivation in saline area of Bangladesh and SO-0048 might be used for breeding purpose to develop salt tolerant variety of spinach.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 49(2): 125-143, June 2024