title: The extent of variation in salinity tolerance of the minicore collection of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) germplasm.
abstract: Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) ranks third in production among the dry land cereals. It is widely cultivated in Africa and South Asia where soil salinization is a major production constraint. It is a potential crop for salt affected soils. To identify salt tolerant germplasm, the minicore finger millet germplasm (n=80) was screened for grain yield performance in a soil saturated with NaCl solution of 100 or 125mM. Genotype effect was significant for most traits, while salinity×genotype interaction was significant only in one year. Salinity delayed phenology, marginally reduced shoot biomass and grain yield. There was a large range of genotypic variation in grain yield under salinity and other traits. The yield loss was higher in accessions with prolific growth and yield potential was associated with saline yields. Based on saline yields, accessions were grouped in to four groups and the top tolerant group had 22 accessions with IE 4797 remaining at the top. Salinity had no adverse impact on grain yield of five accessions. Root anatomy in selected genotype of pearl and finger millet showed presence of porous cortex and well fortified endodermis in finger millet that can exclude Na(+) and enhance N absorption.
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India. Electronic address: l.krishnamurthy@cgiar.org.
authors.forename: Lakshmanan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Hari Deo
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India; Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Ramamoorthy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Purushothaman
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Cholenahalli Lakkegowda Laxmipathi
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gowda
authors.affiliation: Crop Science Lab, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita 9 Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sangam Lal
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sube
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vadez
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000235:genetics; D031748:Eleusine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D012639:Seeds; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012964:Sodium; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Abiotic stress; Physiological traits; Root anatomy; Salt stress; Yield reduction