VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS OF SALT RESISTANCE AND SENSITIVE CORN UNDER SALINITY STRESS
Kelik Perdana Windra Sukma(a), Budi Setiadi Daryono(b*), Diah Rachmawati(b), Purnomo(b)

a) Doctoral Program, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Jl. TJl. Teknika Selatan, Sekip Utara, Bulaksumur Yogyakarta 55281
b) Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Jl. TJl. Teknika Selatan, Sekip Utara, Bulaksumur Yogyakarta 55281
* bs_daryono[at]mail.ugm.ac.id

Abstract

Salinity stress is one of abiotic factor can decrease cultivated plant. Corn as the third most cultivated cerealia after wheat and rice is also influenced by salinity or salt stress. ^Elos^ is one of Madura local corn that has resistance to salt stress. ^Elos^ can be crossed with salt sensitive corn (^Bonanza^) in order to know inheritance of the resistance. But first, it^s necessary to compare the character of both cultivars under salt sress. The Seedlings of 7 days after planting were planted on polybag containing soil and sand (1:1) which its salinity were 0, 3 and 6 mmHos/cm, replicated 20 times. 23 vegetative characters were observed. The results are the ratio of stem and leaf size treated with salinity with control of ^Elos^ were higher than ^Bonanza^. Chlorophyll content in ^Bonanza^ were significantly different in each treatment while in ^Elos^ were not. The carotene content of both cultivars were not significantly different in each treatment. Qualitative characters in both salinities were generally the same except the color of first leaf sheath. ^Elos^ was red purple while ^Bonanza^ were green. Plant size, chlorophyll content and first leaf sheath color can be the marker of resistance corn to salinity.

Keywords: salinity, corn, character, ^Elos^, ^Bonanza^

Topic: Botany