QueryDate : 2016-12-24
Cites : 0
| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| | Data source : Google Scholar QueryDate : 2016-12-24 Cites : 0 |
Plant scientists are
investigating the potential of previously unexploited legume species
where environmental and biological stresses constrain the use of more
conventional forage crops or where these species are better suited to
the needs of sustainable agriculture. Trifolium
isthmocarpum Brot., Moroccan clover, occurs as a weed in
different habitats in Morocco. It grows in moderately saline areas,
where traditional forage legumes cannot be cultivated; however, it has
not been widely studied despite its good palatability. The salt
tolerance was studied between natural field conditions and glasshouse.
The extensive field studies have recorded the species in many different
habitats ranging from healthy agricultural lands to abandoned saline
areas. The plants maintained high nodulation capacity (ranging between
60% and 97%) and nitrogenase activities (average 2.04 µmol C2H4
plant-1 h-1) in different habitats. Shoot systems
of plants collected from salt-affected soils exhibited higher
concentrations of Na+ and Cl- than those
collected from healthy soils. Greenhouse experiments showed that
germination percentage and vigor value of the studied species was not
significantly (P > 0.05) affected at 160 mM NaCl, and that 25% of
the germination ability was maintained when growing on substrats
containing 240 mM NaCl. The growth rate of seedlings was not
signicantly affected by 160 mM NaCl but was reduced by 38% under 240 mM
NaCl. Leaf succulence and indices of leaf water status did not differ
among the salt treatments, whereas relative water content was reduced
by only 8% and water content at saturation increased by about 12% at
high salt concentrations in the growing medium. This study suggest
recommending the cultivation of T.
isthmocarpum in salt-affected soils, which are widespread and
pose a problem for the farmers of Morocco and other countries in the
world’s arid belt.
