Relative salt tolerance of safflower genotypes based on yield, sodium, potassium and calcium contents

In a field experiment, safflower genotypes exhibited considerable variations in ionic composition of leaves due to saline water irrigation. With increase in the salinity of water used (1 to 12 dS m^-1), the Na⁺ content in leaves increased significantly with concomitant decrease in the K⁺ content. There was a significant negative correlation (r=-0.75) between leaf Na⁺ content and seed yield. But K⁺ content and K/Na ratio were positively correlated with seed yield (r=0.67 and 0.72 respectively). Genotype 19-185 contained less Na+ and more K+ and high K/Na ratio in leaves indicating greater tolerance to salinity as compared to S-144 showing a reverse trend.