Genetic variability for chlorine concentration in oriental tobacco genotypes

Abstract

In the present study, the accumulation rates of chloride in the leaves of 100 oriental and semi-oriental tobacco genotypes were evaluated in Urmia Tobacco Research Centre (UTRC). Tobacco genotypes were transplanted in a simple square lattice design with two replications. Each plot was comprised of three lines of 5 m, with a spacing of 65 × 20 cm. Harvested tobacco leaves were sun-cured. From each replication, a random sample of 20 leaves was taken and percentage of chlorine was determined, as defined by CORESTA. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the tobacco genotypes for Cl concentration indicating that Cl concentration is genetically controlled in the genotypes tested. The Cl concentration of 100 genotypes ranged from 0.38–2.68%. Tobacco genotypes, showing low Cl concentration together the reference genotype (Basma S. 31) were evaluated once more in UTRC (low Cl soil) and Anghaneh village (high Cl soil) located near to Urmia salty lack. While all selected genotypes except the local variety, ‘Basma S. 31’, showed again the accumulation rate of chloride less than 1% in UTRC, in Anghaneh village only one genotype, ‘SPT 406’, presented a value less than 1% chloride in leaves indicating that this genotype has a great value for using in the breeding programmes.

Keywords:

• chlorine concentration
• genetic variability
• Nicotiana tabacum L.
• salty soils

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr S. Poormohammad Kiani, INRA, Station de Génétique et amélioration des Plantes (SGAP), Centre de Versailles, F-78026 Versailles, France, and Dr A. Samadi, Department of Soil Science, Urmia University, Iran, for a critical reading of the manuscript.