The effect of salinity and high temperature on biomass production of some alfalfa landraces
2008
Thami Alami, I.; Alfaiz, C., Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-Rabat Instituts, Rabat (Morocco) | Elboutahiri, N., Mohammed V University, Rabat (Morocco). Faculty of Sciences | Ibriz, M., LABICV Ibn Tofaïl University, Kenitra (Morocco). Faculty of Science
The present study aimed to know the effect of the abiotic stresses on some agronomic and physiological characteristics of four alfalfa landraces: Demnate, Dades, Rich and Gabes. The study revealed that high temperature, salinity and their combined effect significantly reduced shoot and root growth compared to control treatments. Under the combined effect of these stresses, plant height, internode number and distance were higher in Demnate and Rich landraces, compared to the control population (Gabes). The landrace Dades was sensitive to the three stress treatments. The physiological studies showed that the combined effect of salinity and high temperature decreased Na+ and Cl- penetration, increased Mg2+ absorption and maintained adequate levels of chlorophyll a and b in the cells, thus indicating a normal process of photosynthesis in all the 4 landraces in response to stress. Relative water content in the leaf was decreased in all the landraces as a result of the combined effect of the two stresses. However, the decrease was very small in the case of Demnate. Our study showed that, in general, salt tolerance in alfalfa seems to be quiet linked to heat tolerance, suggesting that selection against one stress could lead to tolerance to the other stress
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