Improving salt tolerance and yield by Mn supplementation in Vigna radiata

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the year 2016-17 to understand the effects of salinity stress on relative water content (RWC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, proline content, reducing sugar content and yield attributes in Vigna radiata and role of foliar application of manganese in improving salinity tolerance. Plants were subjected to varying levels of NaCl induced salinity (0, 100, 200 and 300 mM). The plant samples were analyzed from 25 days to 65 days of plant growth at every 10-day interval. Yield attributes were recorded at 85 days. Results revealed that there was a slight increase in RWC, SOD activity and yield attributes at 100 mM NaCl concentration as compared to control plants, whereas, an abrupt decrease was recorded at higher salt regimes (i.e. 200 and 300 mM NaCl). However, increase in salinity resulted in increased proline and total reducing sugar contents. The foliar application with Mn (0.15%) ameliorated the negative effects of high salinity and increased the yield. Hence, it was concluded that foliar application of Mn may alleviate the adverse effects of excess salinity on Vigna radiata plants.