Salt stress alters physiological indicators in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate performance of four upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties, Deir-Ezzor22, Niab78, Aleppo118 and Deltapine50 grown under non-saline conditions (control) and salt stress (200 mol m^-3 NaCl) for 7 weeks. Results showed that seedling height, root length, leaf number, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll a and b, osmotic potential, chlorophyll content index (CCI), dry biomass and root/shoot weight ratio were significantly reduced with salinity treatment. This reduction was more pronounced in Deltapine50 and Aleppo118 than Niab78 and Deir-Ezzor22. Leaf relative water content (RWC) was strongly reduced for Deltapine50 and Aleppo118, while, it was slightly increased for Niab78 and Deir-Ezzor22. In conclusion, osmotic potential, RWC, CCI, dry biomass and root/shoot weight ratio could be considered as useful indictors for salt tolerance screening among cotton varieties.