Determination of the response of different eggplant genotypes against to salt stress

In this research, it was aimed to determine the tolerance/resistance performances of eggplant genotypes including ones from different genus against salinity stress with screening method at seedling stage. Thirty five and 34 different eggplant genotypes were used in spring and autumn seasons, respectively. Plant materials were composed of the commercial rootstocks, the ones provided from Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre Vegetable Genetic Resources Information System and collected by the breeding unit of Antalta Tarım A.Ş. from different resources. In this study, 18 S. melongena, 4 S. aethiopicum, 2 S. macrocarpon, 2 S. scabrum, 2 S.torvum and 2 S. integrifolium, 1 S. anguivi, 1 S. caripense and 1 S. violaceum genotype were tested in the experiments. Seedlings at the planting stage were placed into channels in which subirrigated with nutrient solution or nutrient solution + NaCl (salt). Salt concentration was increased 50 mM at two days intervals. When the level of salinity reached to 250 mM, half of the plants were left for one week in this salinity level and analyses of this level were done. Salt treatment continued in the rest of the plants with 50 mM increase till the salinity level reached to 450 mM. Those plants were left in 450 mM one week and analyses of that level were done. Changes in plant growth (stem length, root length, stem diameter, fresh and dry weights of vegetative part and root), colour, chlorophyll content, membrane permeability, Na, K, Ca and Cl content of vegetative parts of the plants and root. Overall data obtained showed that morphologic and physiologic parameters changed according to the salinity level, season and genotype. According to the distinctive parameters (high biomass, low injury index, low membran permeability, low Na and high K content in vegetative part, high K/Na, etc.) in screening studies on salt stress, FR1, FR2, FR9, FR10, Doyran from S. melongana, AVG16 from S. violaceum, FR6 from S. macrocarpon, AVG2 from S.aethiopicum and AVG7 and AVG8 from S. scabrumwere found promising. It could be said that AVG9 (S. sisymbrifolium), AVG2 (S. aethiopicum), FR6 (S. macrocarpon), AVG8 (S. scabrum) having high K/Na and Ca/Na had high tolerance to salinity due to their performances under salinity stress. On the other hand, if the fresh weight of vegetative part of the plants and roots were considered, the performances of AVG7, AVG8 (S. scabrum), FR1, FR2, Yula and Faselis (S. melongena) were found high. Keywords:S. melongena,S. aethiopicum, S. macrocarpon, S. scabrum, S.torvum, S. integrifolium, S. anguivi, S. caripense, S. Violaceum.