Biotechnology Unit Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003
Sodium chloride (0.32%) inhibited growth rate, nitrogenase activity, photosynthesis, respiration and chlorophyll contents of 4 cultures of Azolla. A. microphylla BR-GI recorded tolerance to NaCl when compared to A. pinnata GP-BT, A. pinnata BR-M and A. filiculoides BR-H. Nitrogenase activity was very much affected in Azolla cultures in the presence of NaCl. A. pinnata BR-M and A. microphylla BR-GI were relatively less affected by NaCl, A. pinnata BR-M recorded more chlorophyll in the presence of NaCl. NaCl also reduced the photosynthetic and respiration rates in Azolla.
