Screening of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss) Genotypes with Respect to Seedling Growth Physiology under Salinity and High-Temperature Stress

The experiment was carried out to screen mustard genotypes under individual and combined salinity and high-temperature stress at seedling stage. Seeds after being sown in soil-filled trays were subjected to two levels of salinity stress i.e. 4.0 dSm-1 and 6.0 dSm-1, and high-temperature (40℃), and their performances were also compared with control (1.2 dSm-1). Contrasting sets of genotypes were selected on the basis of seedling growth parameters such as germination percentage, seedling length, dry weight of seedlings, vigour index-I and vigour index-II, recorded in 15-day-old seedlings. With consideration to the genotypic variations observed under all the treatments, genotypes CS2009-347 and CS-52 were identified as tolerant, and genotypes CS2009-256 and CS2009-145 were identified as susceptible under salinity and high-temperature stress conditions. The results also revealed that the impact of salinity and high-temperature in combination on mustard at seedling stage was more detrimental than that of their effects under individual conditions. These findings of genotypic variations in terms of tolerance in seedling stage of Indian mustard might be helpful in selection of genotypes with improved tolerance to salinity and high-temperature.