Genetic diversity evaluation of salinity tolerance in Kabuli chickpea core collection of National Plant Gene Bank of Iran at germination stage

Soil and water salinity are among the most serious yield reducer of crop production across the West Asia and North Africa region. The purpose of this study was to determine salinity tolerance of 103 genotype of Kabuli chickpea core collection of NPGB of Iran. Initially salinity tolerance threshold of genotypes were determined based on selection of randomly sampled seeds of the genotypes. Randomly sampled seeds were cultured on 0, 60, 120, 180, 210, 240 and 300 mM NaCl in a factorial experimental design with three replications on filter paper. Based on radical and plumule length reduction as an indicator of seed vigor, the concentration of 120 mM NaCl considered as a threshold dose of salinity tolerance of the genotypes at germination stage. Then, salinity tolerance of the whole under study accessions at germination phase have been investigated using 120 and 180 mM of NaCl solution and distilled water as control treatment. This experiment was conducted as Completely Randomized design with 3 replications. Although results showed reduction in germination percentage and rate, radical and plumule length, fresh and dry weight under salt treatments, but different genotypes responded diversely to applied salinity treatments. Principle component analysis and bi-plot graph display, based on total dry weight production under salt treatments, and percentage of plumule and radical length reduction in comparison with control treatment indicated that, genotypes number 216189, 215280 and 215995 are surrogate genotypes and have more salinity tolerance from others at germination stage.