EFFECT OF IRRIGATION WATER SALINITY LEVELS ON GROWTH, CHEM-ICAL COMPOSITION AND YIELD OF SOME NEW SWEET POTATO CULTI-VARS WHICH THEIR SOURCE IS TRUE SEEDS

Two pot experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2006 and 2007 to investigate the effect of irrigation with diluted saline water; i.e., 10, 30 and 50% in addition to Tap water as a control on growth, chemical composition, yield and tuber quality of three new sweet potato cultivars (Minufiya 6/96, Minufiya 2/96 and Minufiya 171/96) as well as the local cultivar (Mabrouka). The obtained results revealed that, saline water at 10 and 30% levels stimulated growth of sweet potato plants represented by plant height, number of leaves and branches, dry weight of shoots as well as the contents of photosynthetic pigments, proline, total carbohydrates, N, P, K+ and Ca++ in sweet potato leaves were also increased. Moreover, total water content (TWC), bound water (BW), bound / free water ratio (BW/FW) and relative water content (RWC) increased under these conditions. All these parameters decreased at the level of 50% salinity. Yield and its quality significantly increased at saline water at 10% level. Also, chemical composition of tuber roots; i.e., total carbohydrates, soluble sugars, carotene, starch and dry matter contents were enhanced under these conditions. All previous parameters decreased with increasing saline water up to 50%. Saline water levels increased Na+ content in the leaves. As for the tested cultivars, generally Minufiya 6/96 had the best growth and yield, was more stable in the chemical components and its roots had the highest nutrients value under the control and salt stress conditions, followed by Minufiya 2/96 then Minufiya 171/96. The tuber roots yield of Mabrouka cultivar was completely depressed at 30 and 50% salinity levels. As for interaction between cultivars and salinity levels. The highest level of salinity (50%) lead to a significant decrease in all growth parameters, RWC, TWC, bound water (BW), bound water / free water (BW/FW), chemical composition, yield and its quality in all new tested cultivars. While, Mabrouka cultivar showed a significant decrease in these parameters under the all salinity levels. Accordingly, Minufiya 6/96 was the highest tolerant to the tested salinity stress, followed by Minufiya 2/96 and Minufiya 171/96. On the other hand, Mabrouka cultivar sensitive to salinity.