Salinity Effects on the Physiological Response of Two Bean Genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

The performances of two common bean genotypes; Djadida and Tema were tested under NaCl stress. The plants of three weeks were treated for 10 days with NaCl from 30 mM to 150 mM. It appears that salinity produced an imbalance in water relations and affected growth parameters. NaCl application altered roots, leaves and stems mass production and plant water relations. NaCl application affected adversely roots, leaves and stems mass production and altered plant water relations and stomata density. It should be noted that the same physiological behavior was observed for both bean genotypes subjected to salinity which revealed the existence of a quantitative instead of a qualitative difference between the tested genotypes. Here we observed the superiority of the genotype Tema, for maintaining its growth and water relations under salt stress while further researches are necessary to validate our finding under field conditions.