SALINITY EFFECT ON GERMINATION, GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF MUNGBEAN (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic stress limiting mungbean production worldwide including Bangladesh. Since mungbean plant is very sensitive to salt condition, selection of salinity tolerant genotypes becomes important for mungbean improvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of seven mungbean varieties (BARI mung 1, BARI mung 2, BARI mung 4, BARI mung 5, BARI mung 6, BARI mung 7, BARI mung 8) and three germplasms (BMS I, BMS II, BMS III) to salinity at seedling stage under different levels. The pot experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University during September 2017 to December 2017 by RCBD design with 3 salinity levels and 3 replications. The germination test was done at BARI lab by CRD design with 4 salinity treatments and 3 replications. Germination percentage (%) was decreased with the increasing of salinity level in all varieties. BARI Mung 6 gave the tallest (36cm) plant at control while it was 31.16 cm at 8 dS/m salinity level. Like plant height all the other parameters i.e. no of branch/plant, no. of leaf, chlorophyll content etc. were also decreased with increasing level of salinity. Maximum number of pods per plant was obtained at control in BMS I (15.02) and decreased in higher salinity. BMS I (9.55) had the highest no. of seed/pod at control and it was decreased to 7.55 at 8 dS/m salinity level. Weight of pod/plant was (22.80g) highest in BMS I among the varieties. Yield contributing characters i.e. no of pod/plant, pod length (cm), weight of pod/plant (g), individual pod weight (g), 1000 seed weight (g) etc. were also decreased with the increasing salinity level.