Genetic Variability for Salinity Stress of Seedling Characters of Lentil

This experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Bhagwant University, Ajmer (Rajasthan). In this experiment study genetic variation in 10 different genotypes of lentil which is collected from different location under 4 different level of salinity. 15 seeds of each genotype were arranged in petridishes that had been sterilized and covered with autoclaved germination papers. The pooled analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes and the effect of salinity stress on the genotypes. The genotype x salinity interaction was found significant for all the characters studied which indicated differential response of genotypes to salinity. The highest GCV with PCV values were observed in plumule to radicle length ratio followed by radicle length, radicle fresh weight, and radicle dry weight and plumule weight indicating that variation among the genotypes was highest for these traits. The lowest values of PCV and GCV were observed in germination percentage followed by the plumule length, seedling length, plume dry weight and vigour index indicating these to be the lowest variable characters. Heritability in board sense values was generally high for plumule fresh weight, radicle length, radicle fresh weight, and radicle dry weight across the salinity levels. Genetic advance as percentage of mean was highest for plumule to radicle length ratio followed by radicle length, radicle fresh weight and radicle dry weight. This was lowest for germination percentage. Similar to the coefficient of variation, the GA also showed a linear increase with salinity gradient in germination percentage and seedling length.