Evaluation of Potato Varieties against Salinity Stress in Bangladesh

Aims: The main aim of this study was to find out the salinity tolerant varieties of potato and to evaluate the growth and yield performance of potato varieties under different salinity level.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in the two factor completely randomized design (CRD) with the three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: A pot experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research field and Horticulture Laboratory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh during December 2011 to April 2012.

Methodology: The possible combination of the ten potato varieties (Diamant, Lady Rosetta, Provento, Felsina, Granola, Asterix, Cardinal, Sagita, Shilbilati and LalPakri) and the four levels of salt (NaCl) (So= 0.50 dS/m, S1= 3.25 dS/m, S2= 6.95 dS/m and S3= 8.90 dS/m) were considered as the treatment variables. There were 120 earthen pots and the tubers of selected genotypes were planted in each pot. After 20 days of planting treatment was applied and irrigated every two days interval. 2 ds/m and 6 ds/m saline water was used to raise 0.5 ds/m and 3.25 ds/m respectively. To reach 6.95 ds/m first fifteen days pots were irrigated at 6 dS/m and then 8 ds/m at 2 days interval. Similarly, pots were irrigated at 6 ds/m (first 7 days) and 8 ds/m (next 7 days) and then 12 ds/m to reach 8.90 ds/m at the same interval to avoid osmotic shock. Finally, the electrical conductivity of the soil against treatment reached and measured by Electrical Conductivity meter. It was taken 30 days to raise the soil salinity up to the treatment. These levels of salinity were maintained up to final harvest. After harvesting some important physiological, and yield contributing attributes such as chlorophyll content, membrane leakage, ion uptake and tuber weight were measured.

Results: In respect of leaf chlorophyll content, membrane leakage, per plant tuber weight, and ion uptake were better in Sagita and Felsina. The variety Sagita followed by Felsina had less membrane injury upto 32.14% where as Shilbilati and Lalpakri exhibited upto 69.45% membrane injury at 6.95 dS/m of salinity. At the same time, Sagita gave the highest yield followed by Felsina, Lady Rosetta and Provento.

Conclusion: Finally, the present results revealed that variety Sagita and Felsina responded well under salinity stress condition. Lady Rosetta and Provento performed moderately at 6.95 dS/m. The varieties Shilbilati and Lalpakri were salt sensitive among the selected genotypes