1Department of Botany, Dhampur Degree College, Dhampur–246 761, Bijnor, UP, India.
2Plant Physiology Lab, Department of Botany, Hindu PG College, Moradabad–244 001, UP, India.
3College of Biotechnology, SVP University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut–250 110, India.
The present study deals with the changes in physiological parameters in two varieties (Trifolium alexandrinum L. cv. JHB-146 and Trifolium alexandrinum L. cv. JB-5) of the forage berseem subjected to salt stress. Both cultivars were evaluated for uptake of Na + and K+ in relation to their salt tolerance at seedling stage under different levels of salinity (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 dSm−1). Na + concentrations significantly increased with increasing levels of salinity from 4 to 20 dSm–1 as well as with durations (at 5, 10 and 15 days) in root and shoot of both varieties, while K+ concentrations decreased with increasing levels of salinity but increased with durations in root and shoot of both varieties. The content of Na + and K+ was significantly higher in JHB-146 as compared to JB-5.
Salt tolerance, Na+, K+, berseem, seedling growth, Trifolium alexandrium L
