Assessing Salinity Tolerance in Pinto Bean Varieties: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Salinity is an abiotic stress restricting agricultural crop production globally, in which salts inhibit plants’ ability to absorb water and nutrients. Pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are very important in human nutrition and are sensitive to salinity. The objective of this study was to assess the salinity tolerance of six pinto bean varieties by evaluating the effect of different salt types on germination and growth. In the germination experiment, varieties were arranged in a randomized complete block design with five replications and three saline solutions (NaCl, CaCl2, MgSO4·7H2O) at 0, 0.05 M, 0.1 M, and 0.15 M concentrations each. For the greenhouse experiment, saline solutions with the same EC (5 dS m−1), control (distilled water), and six pinto bean varieties were organized in a Complete Random Design with 10 replicates. The results demonstrated that germination percentage, speed of germination, and hypocotyl length decreased as salt concentrations increased. Othello’s vegetative and reproductive parameters were significantly higher compared to the other varieties under saline conditions; its early maturity may have enabled it to perform better under salt stress. In addition to soil and water management, selecting salt-tolerant crops and varieties is essential to maintaining agricultural sustainability in regions undergoing salinization.