Assessing the potential for improving salinity tolerance in buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link /
A glasshouse technique was evaluated for effectiveness in
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1997.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=736584651&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | A glasshouse technique was evaluated for effectiveness in screening perennial warm season grass seedlings for salt tolerance. Salinity was imposed at the three leaf seedling stage using NaCl in the irrigation water and morphological and physiological traits (tissue ion concentrations) were used to evaluate response to salt stress. This technique was used to investigate the genetic variation for salt tolerance in 97 buffelgrass genotypes. The physiological responses to salt stress were found to be more repeatable than morphological responses. The effects of salt stress on ion concentration in the leaf laminae of buffelgrass seedlings were greater than on stem ion concentrations. Broad sense heritability of leaf sodium content was high (78.7%), suggesting the possibility of using it as a selection criterion in future studies. Cluster analysis revealed four main clusters varying in leaf ion concentration and ion ratios. Nine genotypes were identified as potential sources of genes involved in greater tolerance of sodium in leaves and stems of buffelgrass seedlings. Salt tolerant genotypes were characterized by higher betaine content in both leaves and stems, lower sodium concentrations in leaf laminae and lower sodium in leaves versus stems, as compared to the salt sensitive genotypes. It could be shown from the results that genotypes ranked highest by absolute yield under no salt stress were ranked lowest in yield under salt stress (relative to the non saline treatment). |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Plant Breeding". |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 152 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 120-127. |