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Growth, Mineral Composition, and Seed Oil of Sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.) as Affected by NaCl¹

ABSTRACT

The tolerance of sesame to NaCl salinity was studied first during germination (72 hours), and later during plant growth up to maturity. Germination was conducted in the laboratory at 25C. Sesame plants were tested for response to salinity using nutrient solution cultures with sodium chloride added when test plants were approximately 10 cm tall. Experiments were continued until mature seed pod formation. The data showed a high tolerance during germination but sensitivity at later growth stages.

Although seed yield was strongly reduced, the seed oil content and its fatty acids were not changed. Analyses of leaf blades at different growth stages did not reveal changes in Ca, Mg, K, P, and N indicative of a nutrient deficiency(s). Chlorides, however, accumulated to levels considered toxic. The chloride absorption isotherm showed a marked increase at all growth stages for the same substrate NaCl concentration. This increase was coincident with severe leaf injury and growth reduction. The Na levels in the leaf blades were very low relative to Cl. For example, Na and Cl levels of plants under the highest NaCl treatment at 6 weeks were 0.20% Na and 5.13% Cl. Growth was reduced approximately 50% by this NaCl treatment. The 0.20% Na level is not high enough to indicate Na toxicity.

¹ Contribution of the Dep. of Soil Sci. and Agr. Eng., Univ. of Calif., Riverside 92502. Presented before Div. S-4, Soil Science Society of America, New York City, N.Y., Aug. 19, 1971.

² Graduate Student, Professor of Soil Science, and Professor of Agronomy, respectively, Univ. of California, Riverside. Part of the Senior author's thesis for partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree at the University of California, Riverside.

Received for publication October 28, 1971. Accepted for publication January 26, 1972.