Low Ca^2＋ Content and Ca^2＋/Na^＋ Ratio in Leaf Tissues Determine Salinity Tolerance in Spanish Type Groundnut （Arachis hypogeal L.）

The study was performed with seven groundnut varieties/genotypes and F1s derived from crossing in all possible combinations without reciprocal among the mentioned varieties/genotypes. The objective was to assess whether low Ca2＋ content and Ca2＋/Na＋ ratio of leaf tissue or stem tissue determine salinity tolerance in terms of economic yield （kernel yield） in groundnut. It revealed that the varieties, “Binachinabadam-6”, “Binachinabadam-5” and the F1 G2 × G3 were most tolerant based on kernel yield under 8 dS/m and 10 dS/m salinity stresses. These two tolerant varieties and the F1 also showed lower Ca2＋ and Ca2＋/Na＋ ratios in leaf tissue, which indicated lower Ca2＋ and Ca2＋/Na＋ ratio of leaf tissue determined salinity tolerance in terms of kernel yield in Spanish type groundnut. These findings could be applied in future plant breeding applications for screening salt tolerant Spanish type groundnut genotypes.