Evaluation of Cucumber Germplasm for Salinity Tolerance Based on Early Growth Attributes and Leaf Inorganic Osmolytes

This study was conducted to screen the cucumber genotypes against the sensitivity of  plants to salt stress, To detect variation for salt tolerance in cucumber, a total of 38 cucumber genotypes were tested at seedling stage for tolerance response at seven NaCl levels (0, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mM)in 9-L plastic pot, sand was used as a growing medium and Hoagland’s solution was applied as a nutrient source. Salt stress significantly reduced the shoot, root length, plant fresh weight,  plant dry weight,  chlorophyll contents and leaf inorganic osmolytes (K + and increased Na + ). These screened salt tolerant genotypes will be beneficial for salt affected land. GGEbiplot analysis was used for measuring salt tolerance for relative growth rates of shoot and root length, plant fresh and dry weight. Although the leaf Na + content was increased in all the genotypes, tolerant genotypes exhibited the lowest content of Na + under saline conditions. High Na + accumulation in leaf indicated that genotypes are particularly sensitive to salt. A significant correlation was observed between the root/shoot dry weight and leaf K + /Na + ratios. Genotypes Green long Marketmore seen tolerant and were the Summer green and 20252 were the most susceptible. Biplot analysis appeared advantageous over salt-tolerance indices due to its graphical nature and ability to demonstrate genotype vs environment interactions.