<i>In Vitro</i>Germination and Early Vegetative Growth of Five Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>L.) Varieties under Salt Stress Conditions

In Senegal, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation is affected by salinity in many agro-ecological zones. The selection of salt tolerant varieties would be an alternative solution to enhance the production. Thus, germination and growth are studied under axenic conditions for five varieties of tomato subjected to increasing concentrations of NaCl [0, 35, 70 and 105 mM], and supplemented in an MS/2 medium for 30 days. The results reveal that salt negatively affects the evaluated parameters. The Rodeo and Lady Nema varieties have the lowest final germination rates (50%) unlike the Mongal variety (55%). These last two varieties have a decrease of 71.78% and 81.28% in the height of the stem, respectively, in the presence of NaCl at [105 mM] while that of the Rodeo variety is 70%. The Xewel variety has the greatest average number of leaves in the presence of [NaCl 35 mM] (4.95 leaves) and [NaCl 70 mM] (4.77 leaves). The Lady Nema variety records the longest taproot length (2.99 cm) unlike the Rodeo variety (2.25 cm) at [NaCl 105 mM]. The Ganila variety reveals the highest number of secondary roots at the concentrations of [0, 35 and 105 mM] of NaCl with, respectively, 44.12, 29.25, and 4.25 roots. The Lady Nema variety records the highest fresh weight of aerial (0.055 g) and root parts (0.014 g) and the lowest root dry weights (0.0023 g). These results allow to conclude that the Lady Nema and Mongal varieties seem more tolerant, Ganila and Xewel are moderately tolerant and Rodeo is more sensitive to the presence of salt.