Screening and evaluation of tomato germplasm for NaCl tolerance

The experiments were aimed at assessing the response of 72 tomato accessions to NaCl stress in the rooting media. The genotypic responses were compared using absolute values measuring shoot and root lengths, and fresh shoot and root weights. All the characters exhibited some reductions under increased salinity levels at seedling stage. Based upon absolute root length data, the accessions LA2661, CLN2498A, CLN1621L, BL1176, 6233, and 17870 were found to be more tolerant than the accessions 17902, LO2875, and LO4360. Assessment of Na+ and K+ ion content of nine accessions again substantiated the differing response of these accessions under 10 and 15 dS m(-1) salinity levels. It was concluded that the potential of these genotypes to tolerate increased salt levels was found to be due to longer root, low accumulation of Na+, and greater K+/Na+ quotient.