Biochemical traits associated with growing sorghum genotypes with saline water in the field

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine biochemical traits related to higher phytomass production in sorghum genotypes irrigated with saline water. It was also attempted to consider whether or not forage yield production under non-saline conditions could be used as an index for for the selection of high yielding genotypes of sorghum under saline conditions. Forty-five sorghum genotypes were grown under field conditions using saline water or normal irrigation water in two growing seasons in Yazd, Iran. It appeared that salinity tolerance in sorghum genotypes, in addition to local adaption, was highly related to forage yield as well as some biochemical traits as carotenoid concentration, catalase activity, and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. The screening method based on biochemical traits appeared to be applicable for identification of the salt-tolerant genotypes.

Keywords:

• Carotenoid
• catalase
• forage yield
• salt tolerance
• Sorghum bicolor L

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. Aziz Fouman and Dr. Azim Khazaei (from Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran) for providing lines/cultivars seeds.