Keywords:

Biomass

Growth

Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.

Lablab purpureus L. Sweet

Clitoria ternatea L.

Canavalia ensiformis L. DC.

Emergence capacity and seedlings early growth of four legumes in arid zones under NaCl-stress

Capacidad de emergencia y crecimiento inicial de plántulas de cuatro leguminosas en zonas áridas

en condiciones de estrés por NaCl

Capacidade de emergência e crescimento inicial de plântulas de quatro leguminosas em zonas áridas

sob estresse por NaCl

Francisco Higinio Ruiz-Espinoza

Juan José Reyes-Perez

Felix

Alfredo Beltrán-Morales

Bernardo Murillo-Amador

Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Ortiz

Pablo Misael Arce-Amézquita

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2023, 40(2): e234020

ISSN 2477-9407

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47280/RevFacAgron(LUZ).v40.n2.10

Crop production

Associate editor: Dr. Jorge Vilchez-Perozo

University of Zulia, Faculty of Agronomy

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja

California Sur,

Autónoma de Baja California Sur, México.

Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo. Av. Quito. Km 1

½ vía a Santo Domingo. Quevedo, Los Ríos, Ecuador.

Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C.

(BMA). Avenida Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195.

Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur. La Paz, Baja California

Sur, México. C.P. 23096.

Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria-UASLP. Palma de la

Cruz, Soledad G.S. San Luis Potosí, México.

Received: 11-04-2023

Accepted: 09-05-2023

Published: 02-06-2023

Abstract

Legumes are used as fodder and green manures, because of x nitrogen

biologically. The objective of this study was to determine the emergence

capacity and the early growth of four legume species treated with dierent

NaCl-stress concentrations. The experiment was established in a completely

randomized design with a factorial arrangement, where the rst factor was

the four legumes’ species (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., Lablab purpureus

(L.) Sweet, Clitoria ternatea L. and Canavalia ensiformis L. DC.) and the

second factor was NaCl concentrations (0.25, 50, and 75 mM) with 16

treatments and four replications. The variables evaluated were emergence

rate and percentage, stem and root length, fresh and dry weight of

stem+leaves and root, stem and root length, stem diameter and the ratio of

stems+leaves dry weight and roots dry weight (plant balance). The results

showed that all variables expressed signicant dierences between species,

NaCl and the species × NaCl interaction. A dierential response between

legumes to NaCl stress was observed. The most tolerant species to NaCl

were Vigna unguiculata and Canavalia ensiformis showed a higher tolerance

with respect to Lablab purpureus and Clitoria ternatea.

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2023, 40(2): e234020. Abril-Junio. ISSN 2477-9407.

2-6 |

Resumen

Las leguminosas se utilizan como forraje y abonos verdes,

porque jan biológicamente el nitrógeno. El objetivo de este

estudio fue determinar la capacidad de emergencia y el crecimiento

inicial de cuatro especies de leguminosas tratadas con diferentes

concentraciones de NaCl. El experimento se estableció en un diseño

completamente al azar con arreglo factorial, donde el primer factor

fueron las cuatro especies de leguminosas (Vigna unguiculata L.

Walp., Lablab purpureus L. Sweet, Clitoria ternatea L. y Canavalia

ensiformis L. DC.) y el segundo factor las concentraciones de NaCl

(0, 25, 50 y 75 mM) con 16 tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones.

Las variables evaluadas fueron tasa y porcentaje de emergencia,

longitud de tallo y raíz, peso fresco y seco de tallo+hojas y de raíz,

longitud de tallo y de raíz, diámetro de tallo y la relación peso seco

de tallos+hojas y peso seco de raíces (balance de la planta). Los

resultados mostraron que, todas las variables expresaron diferencias

signicativas entre especies, NaCl y la interacción especies × NaCl.

Se observó una respuesta diferencial entre leguminosas al estrés por

NaCl. Las especies más tolerantes al NaCl fueron Vigna unguiculata

y Canavalia ensiformis mostraron una tolerancia mayor con respecto

a Lablab purpureus y Clitoria ternatea.

Palabras clave: biomasa, crecimiento, Vigna unguiculata L.

Walp., Lablab purpureus L. Sweet, Clitoria ternatea L., Canavalia

ensiformis L. DC.

Resumo

As leguminosas são utilizadas como forragens e adubos verdes,

por xarem o nitrogênio biologicamente. O objetivo deste estudo foi

determinar a capacidade de emergência e o crescimento inicial de

quatro espécies de leguminosas tratadas com diferentes concentrações

de NaCl-estresse. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento

inteiramente casualizado com arranjo fatorial, onde o primeiro fator

foram as quatro espécies de leguminosas (Vigna unguiculata L.

Walp., Lablab purpureus L. Sweet, Clitoria ternatea L. y Canavalia

ensiformis L. DC.) e o segundo fator foram as concentrações de

NaCl (0,25, 50, e 75 mM) com 16 tratamentos e quatro repetições.

As variáveis avaliadas foram taxa e porcentagem de emergência,

comprimento de caule e raiz, massa fresca e seca de caule+folhas e

raiz, comprimento de caule e raiz, diâmetro do caule e relação massa

seca de caule+folhas e massa seca de raízes (equilíbrio da planta). Os

resultados mostraram que todas as variáveis expressaram diferenças

signicativas entre as espécies, NaCl e a interação espécie × NaCl.

Observou-se uma resposta diferencial entre as leguminosas ao

estresse por NaCl. As espécies mais tolerantes ao NaCl foram Vigna

unguiculata e Canavalia ensiformis apresentaram maior tolerância

em relação a Lablab purpureus e Clitoria ternatea.

Palavras-chave: biomassa, crescimento, Vigna unguiculata L.

Walp., Lablab purpureus L. Sweet, Clitoria ternatea L., Canavalia

ensiformis L. DC.

Introduction

The saline-stress is one of the main limiting factors of productivity

in agricultural crops; therefore, going further in the study of saline

tolerance is a priority for sustainable agriculture. The salinity is a

complex abiotic stress based on ionic and osmotic phenomena (Gul

et al., 2022;). The plants under salinity are aected from germination

to more advanced development stages. The imbibition speed is

reduced due to an osmotic eect in the seeds while cellular division,

elongation, and mobilization of essential reserves for the germination

process can also shows variations (Narejo et al., 2023).

Soil salinity is one of the main degradation forms in arid and semi-

arid regions where precipitation is low to keep regular salt percolation

from the crop root system zone (Nachshon, 2018). The soils in arid

and semi-arid regions contain high amounts of soluble salts, mainly

NaCl and Na

(Xu et al., 2020), which allows a high sodium

adsorption ratio (SAR) out of the soil solution. The excess of salts in

drainage is often associated with sodicity problems (Mohanavelu et

al., 2021) since sodium occupies the exchangeable spaces.

The water quality deteriorates progressively due to the salt excess

in addition to bad management of water and soil. The soil salinization

gets hastened and worse when the salt-promoting accumulation

factors are ignored. The recent studies show that, agricultural areas

are being salt-aected worldwide areas including Mexico, where the

distribution and extension of soils with salt problems have increased

particularly in irrigation areas of arid zones (Negacz et al., 2022).

The legumes used as green manure, besides their potential as

nutrient source of livestock, oer other important advantages when

are used in agriculture systems. The legumes promote biological

nitrogen xation (Mathesius, 2022) and this natural conversion of

atmospheric N into available forms for the plant enhances economical

and sustainable productivity (Daniel et al., 2022). The objective of

this study was to determine the emergence capacity and the early

growth of four legume species, treated with dierent NaCl-stress

concentrations.

Materials and Methods

Study area

The experiment was carried-out in the spring season of 2019 in

the Universidad Autonoma of Baja California Sur (UABCS) in La

Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, located at 24° 10’ North latitude

and 110° 19’ West longitude. The study area has a climate BW

(h’) HW (e), that is, dry desert, warm, according to the Köppen

climatic classication, modied by García (2004). The annual

temperatures mean, maximum, and minimum in the study site are

29.6, 36.0 (in July), and 18.1 °C (in January), respectively. The

annual precipitation is about 184.8 mm. The potential evaporation far

exceeds precipitation, resulting in a water decit of around 2472 mm

per year and an average relative humidity of 62 % per month, while

daily insolation is 8.5 h. The experiment was developed in a shadow

mesh structure (40 % of shading, black color, model 20 mesh). The

temperature inside the mesh structure ranged from 29 to 33 ºC. The

data of the climatological variables recorded during the study period

were obtained from a portable weather station (Vantage Pro2

Davis

Instruments, Hayward, CA, USA).

Legumes species

The species used were (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., Lablab

purpureus L. Sweet, Clitoria ternatea L. and Canavalia ensiformis L.

DC.). The seeds of these species were obtained from an organic plot in

the experimental eld of UABCS. The seeds were stored in the seeds

collection bank at UABCS. The extract of Ocimum tenuiorum (holy

basil) was used to maintain the seeds free of insects and pathogens

and were maintained stored at 10 ºC.

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Ruiz-Espinoza et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2023 40(2): e234020

3-6 |

Experimental design

The experiment was developed using a completely randomized

design with a factorial arrangement being the rst factor, the four

legumes (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., Lablab purpureus L. Sweet,

Clitoria ternatea L. and Canavalia ensiformis L. DC.)), and the

second factor, four NaCl concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 75 mM) using

distilled water as control (0 mM NaCl) with 16 treatments and four

replications per treatment.

Experimental management

The seeds of each species were sown in 200 cells germination

polystyrene trays containing Sunshine

an inert commercial substrate

of Canadian sphagnum peat moss (Sun Gro Horticulture Distribution

Inc. Agawam, MA, USA). The NaCl treatments were applied from

the beginning of the experiment. The trays were irrigated every third

day with 500 mL of water after the NaCl solutions treatments and

let to drain to avoid salt accumulation in the substrate. The electrical

conductivity (EC) readings were measured with a conductivity meter

(Hach

, Model Sension+, Loveland, CO, USA) and taken after the

preparation of the saline solution and subsequently to the drained

liquid to compare the values of EC (prepared and drained), according

with Murillo-Amador et al. (2007) No changes were detected in the

drained solution.

Emergence Rate (ER)

The seeds were considered to have emerged when the seedling

emerged through the substrate surface. The percentage of emerged

seeds was recorded daily (emergence rate), after the third day and

once the application of NaCl treatments, and the total emerged

seedlings counted after 11 and 21 days depending on the species. The

emergence rate (M) is the speed that a seed germinate over a period

(in days) was calculated using Maguire (1962) equation: M= n

+…n

100

11 or 21

; where n

, n

2…

is the number of germinated seeds

in the times t

, t

…t

11 or 21

(in days).

Emergence Rate Index (ERI)

The number of emerged seedlings was recorded daily, considering

as the rst day when the rst emerged seedling was observed; the last

observation was performed fteen days after the establishment of the

experiment. The emergence rate index was calculated according to

the formula proposed by Maguire (1962):

Seedlings growth

The emerged seedlings were maintained for 13 days for L.

purpureus, 10 days for V. unguiculata, 11 days for C. ensiformis, and

21 days for C. ternatea and after this period, 10 seedlings per species,

treatments and replication were selected; then, the roots and stems

(stems+leaves) were separated, washed with running water and then

with distilled water.

The fresh (g) and dry weight (g) of all tissues were determined

using an analytical scale (Mettler Toledo

, model AG204, USA). The

dry weight of roots and stems (stems+leaves) were obtained after

being placed in paper bags and then in a drying oven (Shel-Lab

, FX-

5, series-1000203, USA) at 70 °C until constant weight (about 72 h).

The stems height (cm) was measured from the base to the apex

and after seedlings were harvested, while stem diameter (mm)

was measured every three days during the experimental period

using a digital Vernier (VWR

model 62379-531, S/N/61581129,

Manufacturer Control Company, USA).

The roots length (cm) was measured using a graduated ruler and

the measurements were taken from the base of the stem, where the

root hairs begin, to the apex of the main root. The biomass balance

plant was calculated dividing the stem+leaves dry weight by root dry

weight.

Statistical analysis

The data were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistica

v. 13.5 (TIBCO Software Inc., 2018). The homogeneity of variance

was determined using Bartlett’s Box-test. The means comparison test

was performed by Tukey HSD (p=0.05). The emergence percentage

data were transformed by arcsine according to Little and Hills (1989).

Results and discussion

Emergence rate and emergence percentage

The analysis of variance showed that emergence rate (Fig. 1) and

emergence percentage, were aected by species, NaCl, and species

× NaCl interaction. This interaction indicates that NaCl eects

were dierent between species. The NaCl concentrations aect the

emergence rate of the species by delaying the emergence rate being

more severely aected C. ternatea and less aected V. unguiculata

(Figure 1).

The decrease in both rate and emergence percentage is the result

of inhibition of embryo-axis growth because of delayed reserve

mobilization and membrane disturbance caused by NaCl-stress

and evidenced by increased leakage of materials from embryo-

axis (Ibrahim, 2019). The results of seed emergence, according to

the dierent NaCl concentrations, showed that the nal emergence

percentage (Table 1) of each species was inuenced by NaCl.

The seeds of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. showed a higher

emergence percentage of 97.5 %, followed by C. ensiformis, L.

purpureus, and C. ternatea, in that order. The emergence percentage

was similar under 0 and 25 mM NaCl; nonetheless, an increment of

NaCl concentrations reduced the emergence. The NaCl concentrations

negatively aect the emergence of seeds of test plants. The salinity

inuences the germination percentage and the time in which this

process occurs (Dehnavi et al., 2020).

The results of the present study showed variability between

species in the response to NaCl-stress of the four legume and

therefore the germplasm can be considered for saline stress genetic

improvement in legume species. Hence, eorts to identify saline-

resistant germplasm are important goals to pursue. The results of

the present study showed that most of the variables at the emergence

stage exhibited a reduction as the salinity increased. Al-huraby et al.

(2022) reported similar results in P. vulgaris L. when the number of

germinated seeds decreased according to the media concentration.

Likewise, Praxedes et al. (2020), reported that V. unguiculata

seedlings were evaluated for emergence, vigor, salinity tolerance

index, and dissimilarity. Increased salinity of irrigation water reduced

emergence, vigor, and dry matter accumulation of cowpea varieties.

The results showed that some cowpea varieties are most tolerant

to salinity, while other varieties are most sensitive to salinity in

the emergency and initial growth phase. Ravelombola et al. (2018)

analyzed the salt tolerance index of 116 and 155 cowpea accessions at

germination and seedling stages and found a substantial variation in

salt tolerance index for germination rate, plant height reduction, fresh

and dry shoot biomass reduction, foliar leaf injury, and inhibition of

the rst trifoliate leaf. Deng et al. (2019) investigated the relationship

between osmotic regulators, stress resistance enzymes, and salt

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Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2023, 40(2): e234020. Abril-Junio. ISSN 2477-9407.

4-6 |

Figure 1. Eect of NaCl-stress in the emergence rate of four legumes, (A) Clitoria ternatea, (B) Lablab purpureus (C) Vigna unguiculata,

and (D) Canavalia ensiformis. The values represent the mean ± the error standard.

tolerance of leguminous plants (Vigna angularis variety ‘Yuhongdou

2’ and traditional Dolichos lablab) under NaCl stress and found that,

salinity stress inhibited the germination index of V. angularis. Then

germination percentage, germination potential, germination index,

and vigor index of V. angularis decreased with increasing NaCl stress

and was signicantly higher than that of D. lablab. 2) The relative salt

damage rate of V. angularis and D. lablab increased with the increase

in NaCl concentration.

Emergence Rate Index (ERI)

The analysis of variance showed that the emergence rate index was

aected by species, NaCl, and species × NaCl interaction. The table

1 shows that in general, the four species showed lower ERI values as

NaCl concentrations increased. The ERI was higher at 0 mM NaCl

except for C. ternatea which showed a high ERI at 25 mM NaCl;

while V. unguiculata showed the highest in all NaCl concentrations

followed by C. ensiformis whereas L. purpureus at 25, 50, and 75 mM

NaCl showed the lowest ERI.

Similar results were reported by Ruiz-Ramírez et al. (2012) who

evaluated the eect of dierent salinity levels with KCl in the ERI of

ve species of forage grasses, Cenchrus ciliaris L., Chloris gayana

L., Brachiaria brizantha (A.Rich.) Stapf, Brachiaria hybrid cv.

Mulato II and Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Tanzania concluded that

ERI and other variables decreased as KCl levels increased.

The imbibition is the rst stage of germination and aects the

germination because of depends on the seed’s chemical composition,

seed coat permeability, water potential dierence, and the thickness

of storage tissues (Fatokun et al., 2022).

There is a specic association for maize seeds between the level of

physiologic quality and imbibition in the sense that less germination

corresponds to a higher imbibition percentage (Li et al., 2022). In this

study, L. purpureus showed a similar response to maize seeds with the

lowest ERI under 75 mM NaCl.

Seedlings growth

The analysis of variance showed that the seedling’s stem height

and width, root length, stems+leaves fresh and dry-weight, root fresh

and dry-weight, and plant balance were aected by species, NaCl,

and species × NaCl interaction (Table 1).

The stem height was higher at 0 mM NaCl in C. ternatea followed

by the same specie at 50 and 25 mM NaCl. Vigna unguiculata at 0

mM also showed high stem height. The stem diameter was higher at

0, 25, 50, and 75 mM NaCl in C. ternatea followed by L. purpureus at

25, 50, and 75 mM NaCl. The lower stem diameter was at 50 mM in

C. ternatea. Canavalia ensiformis showed the longest roots at 0 mM

followed by V. unguiculata and C. ternatea. In general, V. unguiculata

showed longer roots in all NaCl treatments (Table 1). According to

Shelden and Munns (2023) in saline media, substrate, or soil, with

constant humidity through constant watering, salts are likely to stay

in deeper layers and therefore roots decreased their length activating

the formation of adventitious roots.

In the same sense, Muktadir et al. (2020) reported that high

salinity generates a physiologic drought in plants. In accordance

with this, the common bean doubles the number of secondary and

tertiary roots with a modied architecture due to drought. For this

reason, a system with widespread and deep roots is recommended

to increase the productivity of alimentary legumes in drought and

salinity conditions. Root length could be an important trait for in-

vitro selection of bean varieties resistant to salinity with enhanced

capacity to acquire water. Plant response to salinity varies according

to species, cultivar, and distribution. This is evidence of the diverse

strategies that plants have developed through their evolution. An

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Table 1. Eect of NaCl-stress in the emergence and seedlings growth of four legumes, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus, Clitoria

ternatea and Canavalia ensiformis.

Species

NaCl

(mM)

Stem height (cm) Stem diameter (mm) Root length (cm) Emergence (%)

Emergence rate

index

Clitoria ternatea

0 8.50±0.33 bc* 1.83±0.20 h 8.01±0.52 ab 77.5±14.14 b 7.79±1.32 b

25 6.32±0.45 ef 1.54±0.18 hi 6.85±0.40 bcd 80.0±12.58 a 7.90±1.68 b

50 5.35±0.39 fgh 1.45±0.21 i 6.13±0.47 bcde 77.5±5.00 b 6.91±2.25 c

75 4.10±0.74 h 1.59±0.27 hi 5.81±0.75 cde 82.5±5.00 a 6.68±1.57 c

Lablab purpureus

0 6.44±0.87def 2.96±0.13 fg 6.77±0.65 bcd 85.0±5.77 ab 7.85±1.13 bc

25 5.79±0.27 fg 3.34±0.04 cd 7.07±0.68 abcd 82.5±5.00 b 5.50±1.12 e

50 4.72±0.76 gh 3.29± 0.10cde 2.95±0.45 bcd 75.0±10.00 c 5.84±1.13 e

75 4.94±0.39 gh 3.45±0.39 bc 5.68±0.75 cde 67.5±18.92 d 5.19±1.30 e

Vigna unguiculata

0 9.95±0.48 a 2.64±0.11 g 9.11±0.35 a 97.5±9.57 a 12.72±2.33 a

25 8.26±0.23

c 2.96±0.23 efg 7.78±0.44 abc 87.5±5.00 a 9.75±0.30 b

50 7.32±0.39 cde 2.96±0.04 efg 7.58±0.36 abc 82.5±9.57 b 9.72±1.57 b

75 5.98±0.63 fg 3.07±0.12 def 6.61±0.65 bcd 82.5±9.57 b 9.46±1.30 b

Canavalia ensiformis

0 10.9±1.27 a 3.87±0.23 a 9.16±2.51 a 97.5±5.00 a 10.85±1.41 a

25 9.66±2.01 ab 3.75±0.28 ab 7.27±0.63 abcd 72.5±5.00 cd 7.40±1.45 bc

50 10.1±0.94 a 3.56±0.19 abc 4.57±0.23 e 70.0±18.25 d 7.75±0.81 bc

75 7.62±1.59 cd 3.55±0.21 abc 5.16±0.62 de 67.5±22.17 d 6.35±2.30 d

Stems + leaves

fresh weight (g)

Stems + leaves dry

weight (g)

Root fresh weight (g) Root dry weight (g) Plant balance

Clitoria ternatea

0 0.609±0.09 g 0.118±0.005 cdef 0.464±0.19 ab 0.052±0.005 b 0.254±0.017 a

25 0.501±0.05 g 0.082±0.011 def 0.171±0.07 ef 0.043±0.005 b

0.479±0.053 a

50 0.474±0.10 g 0.068±0.015 ef 0.097±0.049 fg 0.029±0.008 d 0.701±0.043 a

75 0.347±0.07 g 0.062±0.012 f 0.033±0.014 g 0.021±0.006 e 1.878±0.976 b

Lablab purpureus

0 1.060±0.14 def 0.156±0.020 c 0.194±0.039 ef 0.039±0.009 bc 0.804±0.086 a

25 0.967±0.09 ef 0.143±0.013 c 0.168±0.043 efg 0.035±0.005 c 0.851±0.092 a

50 0.966±0.07 ef 0.140±0.002 cd 0.397±0.104 abcd 0.035±0.005 c 0.352±0.012 a

75 0.898±0.11 f 0.126±0.017 cde 0.349±0.117 bcd 0.029±0.008 d 0.361±0.032 a

Vigna unguiculata

0 1.346±0.06 c 0.109±0.010 cdef 0.462±0.043 ab 0.046±0.006 b 0.235±0.054 a

25 1.291±0.07 cd 0.101±0.009 cdef 0.398

±2.053 abcd 0.033±0.001 c 0.253±0.065 a

50 1.269±0.07cd 0.103±0.008 cdef 0.414±0.077 abc 0.032±0.003 c 0.248±0.032 a

75 1.205±0.08 cde 0.101±0.014 cdef 0.300±0.093 cde 0.028±0.004 b 0.336±0.076 a

Canavalia ensiformis

0 3.695±0.25 b 0.612±0.017 b 0.522±1.29 a 0.099±0.021 a 1.172±0.983 a

25 4.093±0.33 a 0.642±0.048 ab 0.372±0.096 bcd 0.090±0.005 a 1.725±0.873 a

50 4.373±0.43 a 0.680±0.046 a 0.276±0.044 de 0.091±0.013 a 2.463±0.997 b

75 3.782±0.32 b 0.661±0.044 ab 0.302±0.163 cde 0.054±0.015 b 2.188±0.983 b

* The values represent the means ± standard deviation. Values with dierent letters in the same column are statistically dierent (Tukey HSD, p=0.05).

example of this is the higher salinity tolerances of the Poaceae family

compared to Leguminosae, mainly due to their origin (Grigore and

Vicente, 2023).

Plants that naturally inhabit saline soils tend to pose a higher

capacity to extract water from the soil; however, halophyte plants

not only need to be capable of absorbing water necessary to its

development from a saline solution but also to absorb it with enough

speed to maintain an adequate transpiration rate (Hasanuzzaman et al.,

2023). The NaCl treatments aected negatively stems and root fresh

and dry weight, as the NaCl concentrations increased, fresh and root

biomass decreased. Canavalia ensiformis L. DC. was less aected

because of showed the highest values of biomass (fresh and dry) in

the majority of NaCl treatments (Table 1). The reduction in biomass

is because of the reduction of cell wall synthesis during stress which

aects the stem and root tissues causing a decrease in fresh and dry

weight. Mubushar

et al. (2022) showed that using growth biomass

variables as indicator facilitate discriminate saline stress-tolerant

genotypes and cultivars.

In the same context, Khan et al. (2023), mentioned that saline stress

aects the structure and permeability of intracellular membranes,

cell homeostasis, energy exchange reactions, DNA structure and

functionality, and various enzymatic responses. These enzymes are

mainly the ones related to metabolism during stress conditions and

adaptive response, which protect from damage caused by stress.

Can-Chulim et al. (2014), reported that the emergence rate and

germination of P. vulgaris (pinto bean), decreased by 54.7% at 9

dS.m

-1

and azufrado bean decreased 30.3%. Moreover, the dierences

in stem length between the control (T

) and the highest concentration

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2023, 40(2): e234020. Abril-Junio. ISSN 2477-9407.

6-6 |

of salt treatment (T

) were 2.4, 4 y 3.2 cm for black, pinto, and

azufrado bean, respectively. Higher electric conductivities resulted in

germination reduction.

The smaller values of plant balance mean a better plant balance.

Plant balance consists of the relation of stem+leaves dry weight

over root dry weight. This relation was smaller for control plants

because the seedlings showed lower weights of stem+leaves dry

weight; however, with equal root weight as compared to the other

NaCl treatments and species. The plant balance is very important for

farmers because of has been observed that seedlings with a better

plant balance have better establishment and development when

transplanted to the eld.

Furthermore, by getting a better plant balance in the eld, better

radicular growth could be obtained, thus, achieving better crop

development. The NaCl salinity treatments reduced the plant balance

due to the increment of osmotic pressure in the substrate solution in

relation to the one in the root cells, aecting ion intake by the root hairs

and, consequently, aecting plant nutrition and development (Acosta-

Motos et al., 2017). On the other hand, Li et al. (2017) concluded that

a high concentration of Na is deleterious to the membrane selectivity

and favors the passive accumulation of Na in roots and stems.

Conclusions

This study showed a dierential response of four legumes to

NaCl concentrations. The species most tolerant to NaCl-stress were

Canavalia ensiformis L. DC. and Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. In

general, the emergence rate and emergence percentage, root length,

root dry weight and stem height decreased as NaCl concentrations

increased. Stem diameter, stem fresh and dry weight, and root

fresh weight increased from 0 mM to 25 and 50 mM but in other

case decreased from 50 to 75 mM, i.e., root fresh weight. Future

experiments are needed to obtain information about the enrichment

capacities of the legumes studied here; maybe, genotypes with lower

emergence under high salinity could x more atmospheric nitrogen

than the tolerant ones.

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