Evaluation of 43 genotypes and Mardom cultivar of lentils under salt stress

This project was carried out to study and classify the lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes during germination and seedling establishment, in Greenhouse and in two stages. First stage was carried out with 43 genotypes and Mardom cultivar of lentil in 4 levels of salinity and 3 replications in factorial experiment in as a completely randomized design in a combination of non-saline and saline soil in the 1, 2-1, 1-1 and 1-2 weight ratios (respectively non-saline soil and saline soil). Second stage was carried out with 3 genotypes and Mardom cultivar of lentil in 4 levels of salinity of NaCl (0, 60, 120, 180 mM) and 3 replications in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. In this project, some morphological characteristics as well as the content of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids and proline were evaluated. Analysis of the results showed that as the salinity increased, morphological traits in most genotypes were significantly damaged. For clustering genotypes in the first experiment, cluster analysis and principal component analysis was carried out and genotypes were classified in four different groups. 4 genotypes for second experiment were selected according to the results of cluster analysis. Results showed that there was high diversity in lentil genotypes in response to salt stress, and we can use this diversity in cultivars breeding programs.