Salt-Acclimation Physiological Mechanisms at the Vegetative Stage of Cowpea Genotypes in Soils from a Semiarid Region

Autor: Rafael de Souza Miranda, José Alves de Santana-Filho, Enéas Gomes-Filho, Anatércia Ferreira Alves, Filipe Igor Leal de Souza, Maria Ivanessa Duarte Ribeiro, Rafaela Ribeiro de Souza, Rosilene Oliveira Mesquita
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 21:3530-3543
ISSN: 0718-9516
0718-9508
DOI: 10.1007/s42729-021-00625-7
Popis: Developing salt-tolerant plants has emerged as a highly efficient approach to cope with salinity damage on crop growth and productivity. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of salt acclimation in cowpea plants [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] and screen salt-tolerant potential genotypes during the early vegetative stage. Seven cowpea genotypes (Epace, Jurua, Marataua, Milagroso, Pitiuba, Sempre verde, and TVU) were irrigated for 24 days with saline solutions of electrical conductivity 0.8 (control), 4.0 (moderate stress), and 8.0 dS m−1 (severe stress). Growth, water status, membrane damage, and variables related to photosynthetic machinery efficiency were evaluated. Biomass accumulation dramatically decreased with salinity, and the reductions were intensified by increasing the salt level. Nevertheless, under moderate salinity, Pitiuba plants showed less reductions in growth than other genotypes. Under moderate stress, Pitiuba plants exhibited maintenance of osmotic potential and photosynthetic pigments, which was consistent with unaltered membrane and elevated leaf succulence, resulting in improved photochemical performance. Conversely, although TVU, Jurua, and Milagroso plants had activated responses against moderate salinity, including reduced leaf osmotic potential and improved stomatal conductance, these responses were not sufficient to mitigate salt injury. The findings clearly show that the Pitiuba genotype activates coordinated responses to mitigate moderate salt damage, constituting an alternative for cultivating cowpea plants in saline environments.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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