The effect of salinity on stomata and leaf characteristics of dihaploid melon lines and their hybrids

Biotic and abiotic stress conditions can occur both in field and greenhouse, they cause negative effects on plant production. Therefore, breeding studies for tolerance to stress conditions are very important. In this study, the stomatal and leaf characteristics of 14 hybrid genotypes, resistant to race 0 and 1 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis, eight parental dihaploid inbred lines and seven original diploid melon lines, from which inbred lines were developed, were investigated under saline conditions. Experiment was established in hydroponic culture. NaCl 200 mM was applied to plants, by comparing with control. Control and NaCl treated plants were compared as regard to sonic leaf (leaf area, leaf width and leaf length) and some stomata (number of stomata in unit area, stomata diameter and stomata length) characteristics. The results revealed that in saline condition, number of stomata in unit area increased; however, size of stomata decreased. Also leaf area, width and length were decreased when compared to control