COMPATIBLE SOLUTE ACCUMULATION, OSMOTICUM MAINTANANCE AND GROWTH IN PANICUM MILIACEUM L. EXPOSED TO SALINITY

Abstract

Salinity is one of the most important constrain affecting crop growth and productivity. Hence studying salinity at morphological and biochemical point of view has become the basis for understanding salinity and plant interactions. Under stress, plants survive by enhancing the osmolyte accumulation by complex metabolic activities. Present investigation deals with the effect of salinity on growth, photosynthetic pigments and compatible solute accumulation in Panicum miliacium. Five NaCl regimes were used, 0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM and 200 mM. Plants were treated with above mentioned NaCl on 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing. From the data obtained we understand that in accord with the increase in salinity, shoot and root growth and photosynthetic pigments content reduced considerably, whereas organic solutes like proline, glycinebetaine and sugar increased considerably. Based on the data recorded it was concluded that reduced shoot and root growth, decreased photosynthetic pigments and remarkable accumulation of compatible solute make the plant survive salinity stress.