Evaluation of black gram genotypes for saline tolerance at seedling stage.

Black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is the third most important pulse crop in India after chickpea and pigeon pea. Soil salinity is one of the major factor responsible for loss in agricultural production. Forty eight black gram genotypes were evaluated for salt tolerance with six different salinity levels viz., EC₀, EC₄, EC₇, EC₁₀, EC₁₃, EC₁₆ at early seedling stage. All the seedling parameters and salt tolerant index were investigated from four days old seedlings. From the results, it was found that there was a gradual decrease with increasing levels of salinity in all the genotypes studied. Seed germination and dry matter production showed more variations than other parameters studied for all the genotypes at different salinity levels. Based on the results, it may be concluded that the genotypes VNBG 017, AUB 3 AND AUB 20 were saline tolerant and VNBG 022, AUB 31 AND AUB 12 were susceptible to salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]