Preliminary assessment reveals tolerance to salinity and waterlogging (and these stresses combined) in Tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata)

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2010

Conference Title

The contributions of grasslands to the conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity - Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens; n. 92

Keywords

Tedera, Salinity, Waterlogging, Aerenchyma

Disciplines

Agronomy and Crop Sciences

Abstract

Tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) is a promising herbaceous new drought tolerant perennial forage legume for southern Australia. In valley floors or high rainfall areas of southern Australia it is common for species to be exposed to transient waterlogging and/or salinity stresses. Tedera's tolerance to these stresses is unknown. We are presenting the results of a hydroponic experiment in which four accessions were grown in an aerated nutrient solution for 20 days and then exposed to the following treatments: (i) stagnant, non-saline; (ii) aerated, 200 mM NaCl; (iii) stagnant, 200 mM NaCl; and (iv) aerated, non-saline control. After 27 days treatment, biomass of shoots and roots were measured and root morphology studied. Two of the accessions had the same shoot and root biomass in stagnant and control treatments, indicating good waterlogging tolerance. New lateral roots with aerenchyma were formed in the stagnant treatments, a typical response of waterlogging tolerant species. Both the aerated and stagnant saline treatments had significant reductions in shoot and root biomass; however, some plants were still green with no dead leaves and producing new shoots. These preliminary results are encouraging that there is variability within Tedera to select elite plants with enhanced tolerance to transient waterlogging and salinity.

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