Abstract
Soil salinity is a severe threat among various abiotic stresses that lowers down the growth and productivity of agricultural crops throughout the world due to the excessive use of poor quality irrigation water. Tolerance of plants involves various physiological, biochemical, and metabolic pathways, and a network of genes to express in saline soils. The present study was conducted to assess the genetic potential of two rice cultivars (Super Basmati and Basmati 515) in altering saline conditions i.e., 0, 40, 80 and 120 mM of NaCl. The data was recoded for height, fresh and dry weight of the plant, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus contents, total free amino acids and total proteins. The results showed that increase in salinity reduced the growth parameters in both cultivars of rice. The reduction was more prominent at higher concentrations of soluble salt. The application of salt stress also negatively affected the uptake of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus contents, and total proteins in contrast with total free amino acids that were increased with the application of salt stress. Basmati 515 showed better growth than Super Basmati under saline and non-saline conditions. Therefore, Basmati 515 could be suggested for planting to get better performance under salt-affected soils. Copyright (C) 2013 - All Rights Reserved