Abstract
Developing salt-tolerant plants has emerged as a highly efficient approach to cope with salinity damage on crop growth and productivity. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of salt acclimation in cowpea plants [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] and screen salt-tolerant potential genotypes during the early vegetative stage. Seven cowpea genotypes (Epace, Juruá, Maratauã, Milagroso, Pitiúba, Sempre verde, and TVU) were irrigated for 24 days with saline solutions of electrical conductivity 0.8 (control), 4.0 (moderate stress), and 8.0 dS m−1 (severe stress). Growth, water status, membrane damage, and variables related to photosynthetic machinery efficiency were evaluated. Biomass accumulation dramatically decreased with salinity, and the reductions were intensified by increasing the salt level. Nevertheless, under moderate salinity, Pitiúba plants showed less reductions in growth than other genotypes. Under moderate stress, Pitiúba plants exhibited maintenance of osmotic potential and photosynthetic pigments, which was consistent with unaltered membrane and elevated leaf succulence, resulting in improved photochemical performance. Conversely, although TVU, Juruá, and Milagroso plants had activated responses against moderate salinity, including reduced leaf osmotic potential and improved stomatal conductance, these responses were not sufficient to mitigate salt injury. The findings clearly show that the Pitiúba genotype activates coordinated responses to mitigate moderate salt damage, constituting an alternative for cultivating cowpea plants in saline environments.
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Acknowledgements
The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Piauí (FAPEPI), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ) for financial support.
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This research was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) under grant number PVIG-02334/17; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Piauí (FAPEPI) under grant Edital PPP FAPEPI/MCT/CNPq/CT-INFRA n° 007/2018; and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) under grant number 427219/2018–3.
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de Souza Miranda, R., de Souza, F.I.L., Alves, A.F. et al. Salt-Acclimation Physiological Mechanisms at the Vegetative Stage of Cowpea Genotypes in Soils from a Semiarid Region. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 21, 3530–3543 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00625-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00625-7