Salt sensitivity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): ions in reproductive tissues and yield components in contrasting genotypes

The reproductive phase in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is affected by salinity, but little is known about the underlying cause. We investigated whether high concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the reproductive structures influence reproductive processes. Chickpea genotypes contrasting in tolerance were subjected to 0, 35 or 50 mm NaCl applied to soil in pots. Flower production and abortion, pod number, percentage of empty pods, seed number and size were evaluated. The concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^– were measured in various plant tissues and, using X‐ray microanalysis, in specific cells of developing reproductive structures. Genotypic variation in reproductive success measured as seed yield in saline conditions was associated with better maintenance of flower production and higher numbers of filled pods (and thus seed number), whereas seed size decreased in all genotypes. Despite the variation in reproductive success, the accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the early reproductive tissues of developing pods did not differ between a tolerant (Genesis836) and a sensitive (Rupali) genotype. Similarly, salinity tolerance was not associated with the accumulation of salt ions in leaves at the time of reproduction or in seeds at maturity.     

Studies in the Respiratory and Carbohydrate Metabolism of Plant Tissues3: VIII. AN INHIBITION OF RESPIRATION IN PEAS INDUCED BY 'OXYGEN POISONING'

A pressure of oxygen of 5 atmospheres has been shown to inhibitmarkedly the carbon-dioxide output of green shelled peas. Accompanyingthis decrease, an accumulation of pyruvic and ‘citric’acid has been noted, whilst a depletion in the concentrationof -ketoglutaric acid and, in some experiments, of malic acidoccurred. The results have been interpreted as indicating thathigh pressures of oxygen interfere with the metabolism of citricacid causing a ‘jamming’ of the tricarboxylic acidcycle; thus, under the conditions prevailing during the oxygentreatment, the tricarboxylic acid cycle is considered to bea major respiratory pathway in peas.