title: Salt sensitivity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): ions in reproductive tissues and yield components in contrasting genotypes.
abstract: The reproductive phase in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is affected by salinity, but little is known about the underlying cause. We investigated whether high concentrations of Na(+) and Cl(-) in the reproductive structures influence reproductive processes. Chickpea genotypes contrasting in tolerance were subjected to 0, 35 or 50 mm NaCl applied to soil in pots. Flower production and abortion, pod number, percentage of empty pods, seed number and size were evaluated. The concentrations of Na(+) , K(+) and Cl(-) were measured in various plant tissues and, using X-ray microanalysis, in specific cells of developing reproductive structures. Genotypic variation in reproductive success measured as seed yield in saline conditions was associated with better maintenance of flower production and higher numbers of filled pods (and thus seed number), whereas seed size decreased in all genotypes. Despite the variation in reproductive success, the accumulation of Na(+) and Cl(-) in the early reproductive tissues of developing pods did not differ between a tolerant (Genesis836) and a sensitive (Rupali) genotype. Similarly, salinity tolerance was not associated with the accumulation of salt ions in leaves at the time of reproduction or in seeds at maturity.
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology (M084), Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kotula
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology (M084), Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.|The UWA Institute of Agriculture (M082), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Hammad A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology (M084), Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.|Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding (M080), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quealy
authors.affiliation: The UWA Institute of Agriculture (M082), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.|Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding (M080), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Neil C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Greater Hyderabad, Telangana, 502 324, India.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vadez
authors.affiliation: The UWA Institute of Agriculture (M082), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Kadambot H M
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Siddique
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Peta L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Clode
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology (M084), Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.|The UWA Institute of Agriculture (M082), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Colmer
mesh_terms: D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D029863:Cicer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D035264:Flowers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D007477:Ions; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D054712:Salinity; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D007477:Ions; D012987:Soil; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium
keywords: X-ray microanalysis; genotypic variation; ovule; pod wall; reproductive success; salinity; salt tolerance; tissue K+ and Na+; tissue ions