EFFECT OF SALT STRESS ON SOME SWEET CORN (ZEA MAYS L. VAR. SACCHARATA) GENOTYPES

An experiment was carried out hydroponically under laboratory conditions to investigate the effect of salt stress on several physiological and biochemical parameters of three sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) genotypes: lines 6-13, C-6 (pollen source) and their heterotic F-1 hybrid Zaharina. The degree of salinity tolerance among these genotypes was evaluated at three different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations: 0 mM, 100 mM, 125 mM and 150 mM. Seed germination, plant growth and biochemical stress determining parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), proline content and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were compared between seedlings of lines and hybrid. The obtained results indicated that both lines and hybrid have similar responses at different salinity levels for all examined traits. All the seedlings' growth parameters, such as germination percentage, root length, shoot length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, decreased with increasing salinity level. MDA, proline and H2O2 increased at different saline conditions in comparison to the control. Based on the results, of the three genotypes examined, the hybrid Zaharina, followed by line C-6, was more salt-sensitive than line 6-13 in salt stress condition.