Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 10(1): 434 - 441. Published October 2008.
Effects of salt stress on physiological and agronomic characteristics of three tropical cucurbit species
Victor Desire Taffouo*, Norbert Lidovic Djiotie*, Martin Kenné**, Ndongo Din*, Jules Richard Priso*, Siegfried Dibong* and Amougou Akoa***
*Department of Botany & **Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. BOX 24157 Douala, Cameroon; ***Department of Biology and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. BOX 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Corresponding author e–mail:dtaffouo@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study the effects of varying NaCl concentrations on some tropical cucurbits and identify species able to grow on saline medium.
Methodology and results: Three Cucurbite species, Cucurbita lanatus, C. moshata and Lagenaria siceraria were studied under 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM of NaCl under laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory, seedling growth, water content and mineral elements partitioning were tested. In the field, the agronomic parameters evaluated during the vegetative and harvesting phases were chlorophyll content, time of flowering, weight of the mature fruit, number of seeds per fruit and yield. Low concentrations of NaCl had a negative effect on agronomic parameters and limited the growth of plants, as well as the Na+ and K+ content in the shoots of C. lanatus and C. moshata. Salt injury symptoms, e.g. chlorosis were clearly visible in the plants at high NaCl concentration. The growth and agronomic parameters of Lagenaria siceraria were not significantly affected by varying salt concentrations. This species absorbs and transports sodium and potassium in its aerial parts.
Conclusion and application of findings: Citrullus lanatus and Cucurbita moschata presented characteristics of sensitivity to salt stress while L. siceraria seemed to be tolerant. The absorption of Na+ and K+ significantly increased the water content in the aerial parts for L. siceraria. L. siceraria could be cultivated in environments with varying salinity.
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