EFFECTS OF SALINIZATION TREATMENTS ON GROWTH AND SOME RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME LEGUMINOUS PLANTS

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Abstract
When subjected to salinization levels of 00, 20, 40 and 60 meq NaCl/L, the kidney bean cultivars Harvester and Contender and cowpea cultivars Asmarly and Creamy 7 exhibited significant changes in their physiological activities. The trends and magnitudes of these changes depended on the plant variety as well as on the level of salinization. Generally, it was found that while stomatal frequency and transpiration rate were significantly reduced, water content was considerably elevated. Biosynthesis of pigments and photosynthetic activity and consequently leaf area and dry matter accumulation were considerably reduced as the concentration of NaCl in the nutritive medium increased. Mineral composition also exhibited significant changes, but the dominant feature was the high accumulation of sodium in salinized plant tissues.