In vitro evaluation of salinity tolerance of potato (Solanum tuberosum var. Spunta)

By: Miftah Daw , Muhannad Bin Ghazal , Almunzir Abughniya

Horticulture Department - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Tripoli

Issue: Vol 21 |First Issue | 2015

article language: English

Abstract:

The effects of salinity (NaCl) on potato (*Solanum tuberosum* L.) variety Spunta were evaluated using plant tissue culture at 5 levels of NaCl (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mM) using single-node explants. Significant effects were observed among the plantlets cultivated at different NaCl levels. Salinity stress gradually inhibited the growth and development of plantlets with increasing NaCl concentration in the used growth medium (MS). The growth traits tested for plantlets grown in MS medium containing 20 mM NaCl showed no differences compared to the control, except for plantlet length, which decreased significantly by 36% compared to the control. Increasing salinity beyond 20 mM showed a progressive decrease in all studied growth traits. All plantlets survived in the growth medium containing a high level of NaCl (100 mM) but showed a severe reduction in growth rate. Based on the obtained results, the salinity tolerance of the Spunta variety can be estimated as moderate.