Effect of Salinity on the Growth Characteristics of Solanum aethiopicum L. (Solanaceae)
S. I. Mensah
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
C. Ekeke *
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
M. Udom
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Salinity affects various morphological and anatomical characters of plants thereby reducing the yield of the plant in the long run. Solanum aethiopicum L. is an economic plant that is versatile for human use ranging from food to traditional medicine. Experiment was conducted to assay the impact of saline irrigation on some growth parameters (plant height, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight and size of stomatal complex). Results of the experiment showed that for most parameters studied that the values obtained for the treatments are reduced compared to the control, thereby establishing that saline water harmed S. aethiopicum L. There is no significant difference in the plant from week 5 (i.e. 2 weeks after application of saline water) but at week 6 and 7 (i.e. 3 and 4 weeks after application of saline water respectively), there was significant difference in the parameters. Therefore it is advised that S. aethiopicum L. be grown on soils with low or no content of salinity to maintain optimum growth and development of the plant.
Keywords: Saline water, growth characteristics, stomatal complex, leaf area index, dry weight.