Abstract
Identification and improvement of salt-tolerant melon (Cucumis melo L.) genotypes is needed to temper salinization threats to growth and physiological development under cultivation conditions. To assess the potential of five inbred lines of melon, a factorial experiment with different salinity treatments was performed. Plants exposed to NaCl showed a different leaf color and phenotypic changes compared to plants in the control group. The inbred line Cm.UT.Kh at 14 ds. m−1 had the highest significant necrosis ratio compared to other inbreeds. LAB and RGB leaf colors showed a significant high coefficient of determination for the regression models selected, which indicated their useful information for assessing salinity effects in melon leaves. Generally, the drawbacks of high-salt treatment in all five inbred lines manifested in decreased total dry and fresh weight of shoots and roots as well as reduced leaf area and plant height compared to the controls. The lowest reduction in leaf leakage was recorded for Cm.UT.Gr and Cm.UT.Jaf. Furthermore, Cm.UT.Gr and Cm.UT.1025 showed the highest membrane stability with increasing salt concentration. The potassium content of leaves revealed positive correlations with high biomass production and membrane stability index, but negative correlations with Na+ leaf content and electrolyte leakage. Principal component analysis (PCA) results for growth parameters, leaf ion content, membrane stability index, and root characteristics could help to indirectly identify salt-tolerant plants. The results of appropriate inbred melon lines implies that selecting the right varieties might lead to higher salinity tolerance in future melon hybridization and breeding programs.
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Mirbehbahani, G.S., Soltani Salehabadi, F. & Shokrpour, M. Differential Assessment of Growth, Physiological Parameters, and Leaf Responses to Salinity Stress in Inbred Melon Lines. Gesunde Pflanzen 75, 2623–2638 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-023-00877-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-023-00877-6