Salt tolerance of some tomato genotypes grown in Turkey

This study was carried out to determine the salt tolerance of 12 tomato genotypes collected from different parts of Turkey. Two salt concentrations (control, 8, 12 dS/m NaCl) were applied to the genotypes for 40 days. At the end of the experiment, the levels of leaf, stem and dry root weights and Ca, K and Na concentrations were determined. The relationships between the levels of salinity and root, stem, leaf accumulation; and between K, Ca, Na and root, stem and dry leaf weights were investigated. Ca/Na and K/Na ratios were also calculated. A tolerance index was calculated for every single genotype in root, stem and leaf thy weights and in the K/Na and Ca/Na parameters of these organs. According to the data obtained, because of increasing NaCl concentrations, it was determined that all growth parameters had decreased. However, this decrease in salt tolerant genotypes was restricted in comparison to salt sensitive genotypes. It was also determined that by increasing NaCl applications, the amount of Na increased or decreased and the amount of Ca and K ions decreased or increased in salt tolerant genotypes as well as in growth parameters. Thus, it was concluded that K or Ca absorbing plants with high K/Na and Ca/Na concentration were more salt tolerant. Dry weight (root, stem and leaf), Ca/Na-K/Na ratios and their TI were used as a simple and effective method to select salt tolerant tomato genotypes at different salt concentrations. The tomato genotypes 40395, 40443, 47839 demonstrated good performance for most of the measured parameters under different salinity levels and could be selected as tolerant genotypes.