Effect of salinization on growth and distribution of Na⁺ and Cl^- in two genotypes of chickpea

Of the two chickpea genotypes subjected to salinity, Pusa 209 was affected more in terms of visible injury, growth and yield than BG 312. Plants sampled after 20 and 40 days of salinization revealed that roots retained both Na⁺ and C^-, but Na⁺ to a greater extent. Nodules retained far lower Na⁺ and C^- but accumulated K⁺. K⁺ content of the various plant organs either increased or was not affected by salinity. BG 312 gave an overall better performance inapite of its higher leaf chloride concentration. Thus besides ionic exclusion, some other factor like K⁺ concentration, ionic balance and differential intracellular localization of Cl^- and/or Na⁺ ions may possibly govern the genotypic differences in chickpea.