The effect of salinity stress on the morphology and photosynthetic pigments of the tomato seedlings

Abstract

In Uganda, there are no known effects of salinity stress on the performance of the tomato plants in terms of photosynthetic pigments, plant morphology such as leaf size, plant height, fresh weight. However, salinity effects cause yield lose fraction between 20% and 50 %. Greenhouse trails were conducted under Completely Random Design (CRD) to assess the effect of salinity stress on the morphological performance. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of salinity stress on morphological performance and photosynthetic pigments of the tomato seedlings. it was hypothesized that salinity stress affects the morphological performance and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a+b) of the tomato seedlings. Rock salt treatment of varying concentrations of 0g, 15g, 30g and 45g per liter of rock salt were applied to the tomato seedling after they had attained six true leaves with 9 replicates per concentration. Data was collected on stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, plant height, fresh weight, leaf number and photosynthetic pigments. the results showed that there was significant reduction with the increase in the level of salt concentration from 0g,15,30g and 45g on the leaf number, plant height, fresh weight, leaf width chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a+b. And the effect was severe at concentrations 0f 30g and 45g of rock salt concentration on the tomato seedlings.