Effect of rhizobial nod factors (lipo-chitooligosaccharide) on seedling growth of blackgram under salt stress

A study was carried out to examine the performance of blackgram seedlings under varying levels of salinity and to ascertain the remedial effect of lipo chitooligosaccharide (LCO) against salinity stress. Higher germination percentage, root and shoot length, vigour index and salt tolerance index and lower phytotoxicity of roots and shoots (0) were observed in control (nosalinity)treatment irrespectiveof priming. Salinity negativelyinfluenced the seedling growth andas the salinity increased the seedling growth characters were drastically reduced. The nod factor treated blackgram seedlings had relatively higher germination percentage, root and shoot length, vigour index and salt tolerance index and lower phytotoxicity of roots and shoots. Seed priming with nod factor was found to have significant effect on eliminating the effects of salinity.