Stem and leaf response of sunflower hybrids to salt stress

Pot-culture experimentation was carried out to note the influence of four distinct treatments of salts having an ec 1.19,9.54,16.48 and 22.38 dsm-1 on stem and leaf characteristics of four diverse hybrids (i.e.,do-728,do-730,hysun-33 and suncross-843) of sunflower (helianthus annuus l.). salt treatments were prepared by dissolving premeditated quantity of different salts viz.,na2so4; cacl2; nacl,and mgcl2 in ½ strength hoagland nutrient solution. results revealed that all the salinity treatments significantly (p<0.05 & p<0.01) effect stem and leaf growths. hybrids and their interactions also exhibited significant response towards salt stress levels. it was noted that there was a linear decrease in length and size of measured attributes as salinity level increased. a significant reduction in plant length (3.3 cm),girth of stem (0.3 cm),length of leaf (1.8 cm),width of leaf (1.2 cm) and number of leaf plant-1 (4.3) were recorded in highest dose of applied salts (22.38 dsm-1). different hybrid responded differentially and significantly with increasing the level of salinity. a maximum significant (p<0.05) plant length (10.4 cm),stem girth (0.5 cm),leaf length (4.8cm),leaf width (2.6 cm),leaf plant-1 (9.9) and leaf burnt (1.5) were noted for hybrid do 728 followed by do 730 and hysun 33,whereas a minimum significant values (7.4,3.3,2.2,0.4 and 6.8 cm) for the same growth attributes (except for leaf burnt) respectively registered for hybrid suncross-843. based on the overall better growth performance,do-728 could be ranked as salt tolerant followed by do-730 and hysun-33 as moderately tolerant and suncross-843 as salt susceptible hybrid in response. © 2015,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.