Growth, Water Relation and Physiological Responses of Three Eggplant Cultivars under Different Salinity Levels

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important traditional crop that is cultivated worldwide. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stress factors that impact crops yield. Seeds of three eggplant cultivars (Blacky, Pearly F1, and Classic) were evaluated under salt stress. Seedlings were treated with salinity solutions induced by a 3:1 ratio of calcium chloride and sodium chloride to four concentration levels measured as electrical conductivity (EC) [1.2 dS/m (control), 2.0 dS/m, 4.0 dS/m, and 8.0 dS/m] for 65 days. Plants had a higher root dry weight when irrigated with 4.0 and 8.0 dS/m solutions. Eggplant cultivars varied in their response to salinity. At both control and 4.0 dS/m, Blacky cultivar had the highest plant height, stem diameter, RGR, NAR, leaf area, stem, leaf, root, and total plant dry weights. However, Blacky had the lowest in all these parameters when subjected to 8.0 dS/m. Results indicate that high salinity levels may alter the pattern of dry matter distribution that preferred investment in roots than in the other plant parts. Under 4.0 dS/m, Blacky seedlings were triggered to develop adaptive mechanisms that could better tolerate saline conditions than when irrigated with 2.0 dS/m water.