Morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of Chili (Capsicum annum L.) genotypes grown under varying salinity levels

PLoS One. 2021 Nov 4;16(11):e0257893. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257893. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Climate change is causing soil salinization, resulting in huge crop losses throughout the world. Multiple physiological and biochemical pathways determine the ability of plants to tolerate salt stress. Chili (Capsicum annum L.) is a salt-susceptible crop; therefore, its growth and yield is negatively impacted by salinity. Irreversible damage at cell level and photo inhibition due to high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and less CO2 availability caused by water stress is directly linked with salinity. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the impact of five NaCl salinity levels, i.e., 0,1.5, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 dS m-1 on growth, biochemical attributes and yield of two chili genotypes ('Plahi' and 'A-120'). Salinity stress significantly reduced fresh and dry weight, relative water contents, water use efficiency, leaf osmotic potential, glycine betaine (GB) contents, photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Ci), and chlorophyll contents of tested genotypes. Salinity stress significantly enhanced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and activities of the enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). In addition, increasing salinity levels significantly reduced the tissue phosphorus and potassium concentrations, while enhanced the tissue sodium and chloride concentrations. Genotype 'Plahi' had better growth and biochemical attributes compared to 'A-120'. Therefore, 'Plahi' is recommended for saline areas to improve chili production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Capsicum / genetics*
  • Capsicum / growth & development
  • Chlorophyll / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Peroxidase / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Potassium / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Salinity*
  • Salt Stress / genetics*
  • Salt Tolerance / genetics*
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Sodium Chloride / adverse effects
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Water
  • Chlorophyll
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Sodium
  • Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Potassium

Grants and funding

The study was partially supported by the Institute of the Horticultural Sciences University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan. This work was supported by the project EPPN2020-OPVaI-VA – ITMS313011T813 and VEGA 1/0589/19. The current work was funded by Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/245), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.