Screening for salinity tolerance in developed winter squash (Cucurbita maxima) and pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) lines

Abstract

Salinity is one of the major environmental factors that cause reduction in plant growth, development and productivity. One screening study was performed in order to determine the genotypical differences of selected promising winter squash (Cucurbita maxima) and pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) lines for salt stress. In this study, three pumpkin lines (G9, 14BO01 and 14YE02) and four winter squash (57SI21, 55CA15, 57SI06 and G14) lines were used. Seeds were germinated in a mixture of peat:perlite of 2:1 ratio. After 21 days of sowing, seedlings were transferred to plastic pots containing a perlite. Two weeks later, salt treatment started and NaCl concentration was applied at 4 different EC values (4, 8, 12 ve 16 dS m–1). Stress responses of winter squash and pumpkin lines were evaluated in early plant development stage, in this way chlorophyll content (SPAD value), stoma density (stoma mm-2) and stoma dimensions (mm) were determined. The results indicated that stomata intensity increased, while stomata density and SPAD value decreased in saline condition. In conclusion, the winter squash and pumpkin lines showed large variation in their response to salt tolerance. Winter squash lines were found as salt tolerant than pumpkin lines. 55CA15 and 57SI21 in winter squash, G9 in pumpkin were classified as mildly tolerant. © 2016, Centenary University. All rights reserved.