Metabolic and Developmental Adaptations Conferring Salt Stress Tolerance in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Varieties
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.2026.23.01.1474-lsKeywords:
Biochemical parameters, chlorophyll, proline, salinity stress, total sugarAbstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically and nutritionally important vegetable crop in Bangladesh, but its productivity is severely constrained by soil salt stress in coastal regions. This study evaluated the physiological and biochemical responses of two tomato varieties, BARI Tomato 14 and BARI Tomato 21, under varying salt stress levels to identify potential salt-tolerant varieties. Seeds were subjected to five salt stress treatments (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 dS m⁻¹) during germination, and three levels (0, 3, and 6 dS m⁻¹) at the vegetative stage under controlled condition following completely randomized design. Salinity markedly reduced germination percentage, root length, shoot length, biomass, moisture content, and vigor index. However, a mild stimulatory effect was observed at 3 dS m⁻¹, where BARI Tomato 21 achieved the highest germination (93.3%) and vigor index (1345.3), compared to BARI Tomato 14 (86.7% and 913.1, respectively). At the vegetative stage, salt stress induced a marked increase in proline (up to 51.4 mg 100 g⁻¹ fresh leaf) and total soluble sugars (up to 2.92 g 100 g⁻¹ fresh leaf), with BARI Tomato 21 accumulating greater levels than BARI Tomato 14, suggesting better osmotic adjustment capacity. In contrast, chlorophyll contents were decreased markedly with increasing salt stress, though BARI Tomato 14 maintained slightly greater chlorophyll retention. Overall, BARI Tomato 21 demonstrated superior tolerance to salt stress through enhanced osmoprotectant accumulation, improved vigor, and sustained biomass production, making it more suitable for cultivation in moderately salt-affected coastal soils. These findings provide valuable insights for breeding and management strategies aimed at improving tomato resilience in saline environments.
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