ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effect of Salinity Stress on Morphological, Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

The study was conducted to determine the effect of different concentrations of NaCl salt stress (0, 25, 50, 75, 100mM) on growth and biochemical parameters in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] plants. The plants were uprooted and collected for experimental work on the 20th day after sowing i.e. five days after salinity stress. Salt stress caused reduction in morphological parameters like shoot length, root length, leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight. Relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll and carotenoid contents also significantly decreased with the increasing NaCl concentrations. However other biochemical parameters protein, amino acid content, osmoprotectant like proline and antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity significantly increased with the increasing NaCl salt concentration. At the 100mM NaCl salinity stress level, chlorophyll, carotenoid contents significantly increased and peroxidase (POD) content significantly decreased compared to the 75mM NaCl salt stress. As mungbean is a salt sensitive crop, it shows significant variation in metabolic activities in response to salt stress. Mungbean plants can tolerate and adapt to salinity stress as well as other environmental stresses through their acclimation process.