Journal of Stress Physiology &
Biochemistry, Vol. 17 No. 3 2021, pp. 113-126 ISSN 1997-0838
Original
Text Copyright (cc) 2021 by Meera and Augustine
Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus
Resistant Okra Varieties Found Exceptionally Sensitive to Salinity
Stress
S. P. Meera and Anu Augustine*
1
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Kannur University,
Thalassery Campus, Palayad P.O., Kannur- 670661, Kerala, India
*E-Mail:
anua@kannuruniv.ac.in, anuaugus@rediffmail.com
Received
May 12, 2021
Background: Okra is a nutritious
vegetable crop which is highly susceptible to yellow vein mosaic virus
(YVMV), a biotic stress factor. Chemical control of YVMV is very
difficult; hence a number of tolerant varieties are developed for
cultivation. The abiotic stress factors like salinity, which may reduce
the yield of YVMV resistant okra, are not yet assessed.
Results: Six okra genotypes
(Arka Anamika, Anjitha, Manjima, Aruna, Kiran and Susthira) exhibiting
resistance to Yellow YVMV were screened for their tolerance to an
abiotic stress, salinity. Individual healthy seeds were monitored from
7 to 50 days under saline conditions for seed germination and emergence
assays respectively. Parameters like number of geminated seeds and the
radicle length were measured and documented at 3rd, 5th and 7th day for
the germination assay. Number of seeds emerged from soil by the first
5, 10 and 15 days, the length of the emerged plantlet on the 15th and
30th day and morphological changes of emerged plantlets thereafter, up
to 50 days were observed for the emergence assay. The rate of
germination, radicle length, percentage of emergence and plantlet
length were found to decrease with increasing salinity.
Conclusions: All the six YVMV
resistant varieties were found to be sensitive to salinity stress
irrespective of whether it is germination, emergence or vegetative
phase. The resistance to YVMV thus couldn’t contribute any preformed
intracellular osmoticum to overcome salt induced cell damage in okra.
Key
words: Okra, salinity, stress tolerance, Yellow vein
mosaic virus resistance
