Response of Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) towards Salinity Stress

Salinity is detrimental for crop growth as it hampers agricultural productivity impacting food sustainability. The response of salt stress on germination, seedling growth and proline content was studied in kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaaris L.) under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Seeds were germinated in vitro on Murashige and Skoog’s basal medium containing NaCl (0, 50 and 100 mM). Pot culture method was used for in vivo studies and the seedlings were irrigated by Hoagland nutrient solution supplemented with NaCl (0, 50 mM and 100 mM). Under the influence of salt stress, the time required for germination increased while germination percentage, shoot/root length and fresh weight of seedlings declined. The shoot length was more impacted compared to root length resulting in increment of root to shoot ratio. The germination stress tolerance index, seedling vigor index, shoot and root length stress tolerance index declined with increment in salt stress. Proline content doubled at higher stress levels both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Understanding the impact of salt stress in kidney beans is helpful in selecting varieties better adapted towards saline environments for ensuring sustainable production.