Changes in proline and mineral concentration in chili (Capsicum spp.) genotypes from Chiapas, Mexico, in response to NaCl

• José de Jesús Pérez-Gómez ^[1] ; Nancy Ruiz-Lau ^[1] ; Manuel Martínez-Estévez ^[2] ; Emanuel Bojórquez-Quintal ^[3] ; Blanca Olivia Trejo-Paniagua ^[1] ; Federico Antonio Gutiérrez-Miceli ^[1] ; Rosa Isela Cruz-Rodríguez ^[1] ; Esteban Sánchez-Rodríguez ^[3] ; María de Fátima Medina-Lara ^[2]
  1. [1] Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla-Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
  2. [2] Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán
  3. [3] El Colegio de Michoacán, México

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• Localización: Agrociencia, ISSN 2521-9766, ISSN-e 1405-3195, Vol. 58, Nº. 3, 2024, págs. 375-390
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Salt stress tolerance is an important quality in breeding cultivated plants to reduce crop loss. In this work, the tolerance to sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity of two Capsicum genotypes was evaluated: C. annuum (Blanco and Simojovel chili) and C. frutescens (Siete Caldos chili) from the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Seedlings were hydroponically maintained with Hoagland nutrient solution supplemented with 0, 60, and 120 mM NaCl for 8 days. Physiological response variables (SPAD units, dry and fresh weight of root and aerial part), percentage survival, proline concentration, and relative Na+, K+, and Cl- concentration in the aerial part and roots were measured. The results showed that the Siete Caldos genotype was the most sensitive to NaCl stress, with a survival rate of 66.66 % at 120 mM. Stress affected chlorophyll by decreasing SPAD units and increasing proline concentrations at 60 mM and above. Furthermore, there was a high concentration of Na+ in leaves and a low concentration in roots, indicating its translocation. On the other hand, the Simojovel genotype was the most tolerant, with 100 % survival and 86.66 % survival at 60 and 120 mM, low Na+ accumulation in the aerial part, and a significant increase in proline concentration. Moderately salinity-tolerant genotypes could be an alternative for plant breeding. The results obtained here lay the basis for the selection of salt stress-tolerant chili genotypes in order to transfer this tolerance to other commercially important cultivars and to minimize the damage caused by excess salts in the soil through genetic improvement and the use of tolerant rootstocks