Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Response of forage yield, protein and proline contents of alfalfa genotypes to irrigation water salinity and phosphorus fertilizer

Author(s):

Fathy Saad El-Nakhlawy ^1*, Mohamed A. Shaheen ¹, Abdulmohsin R. Al-Shareef ²

Recieved Date: 2011-09-04, Accepted Date: 2012-01-08

Abstract:

The effects of 3 irrigation water salinity levels, 1.875, 6.250 and 12.500 dS m^-1, and 4 P rates, 0.0, 92, 180 and 276 kg P/ha, were studied on four alfalfa genotypes concerning cumulative fresh and dry forage yields, plant height, leaf protein and proline contents over 36 cuts during 2008, 2009 and 2010. Also, these genotypes were evaluated using the RAPD technique. As salinity levels increased, cumulative fresh and dry forage yield and plant height significantly decreased, while proline significantly increased. Cumulative fresh forage yields were 101.46, 82.094 and 63.813 t/ha/year, while proline contents were 0.698, 0.806 and 1.260 µmol g^-1 under the 1.875, 6.250 and 12.500 dS m^-1, respectively. P reduced the adverse effect of salinity stress on alfalfa yield, especially under the 6.250 dS m^-1 salinity level. Hasawi genotype produced the highest fresh and dry yield under the 1.875 and 6.250 dS m^-1. Under 12.50 dS m^-1 salinity, Sabkhawi genotype produced the highest fresh forage yield (75.615 t/ha/year), dry yield (18.509 t/ha/year) and proline content (1.487 µmol g^-1), while Hasawi genotype had the lowest proline content (0.938 µmol g^-1). Accumulated proline through 36 cuts significantly increased as number of cuts increased in all genotypes. Number of amplification bands per primer varied between 0 and 10. The minimum GS value derived between Sabkhawi and Hasawi genotypes, while the maximum GS derived between Makkah and Al-Taef genotypes. The dendrogram generated, using pooled RAPD data, divided the alfalfa genotypes into two main clusters. The first one consisted of Makkah, Al-Taef and Hasawi genotypes, while the second cluster consisted of Sabkhawi genotype.

Keywords:

Alfalfa, forage yield, salinity, phosphorus, proline, DNA

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 551-557

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